A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
(Tri-Star Pictures)
By Lucas Allen
Though he passed away in 2003 at the age of 74, Fred Rogers remains a symbol of kindness and generosity with his classic children’s program “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
The Mr. Rogers renaissance is evident in last year’s award-winning documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” and this year’s “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” The latter in particular isn’t a biographical film, but an original story about how one person’s power of being good can have an impact on an unkind world. The movie is inspired by an Esquire Magazine article “Can You Say…Hero?” by Tom Junod.
In 1998, reporter Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) is known for his cynical views that he brings to his reporting on a subject. This stems from his estranged relationship with his father Jerry (Chris Cooper) and facing the stress of fatherhood raising his newborn baby with wife Andrea (Susan Kelechi Watson). When his editor for Esquire magazine wants him to do a special profile on Mr. Rogers, he reluctantly agrees, much to his wife’s surprise. Arriving in Pittsburgh, he arrives at the television studio where Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks) brings his lessons and his puppets of the Kingdom of Make-Believe to millions of children.
At first, Lloyd is unfazed by Rogers’ personality and his natural calm vibe, especially when the host asks him about his personal life. But as he sees how Fred works his magic on the show, Lloyd starts to see the value of the beloved personality’s gift of bringing joy to everybody. But when he’s facing a family crisis, all Lloyd has to do is to learn how to forgive and understand better about himself and others.
This is not a Mr. Rogers biopic, but more like a film about one man’s perspective on Rogers’ popularity and legacy he brought to the world. Interestingly enough, the movie plays like an episode of “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” with the good host talking to the audience while transitional scenes with the show’s toy building sets give it an authentic feel. Those who grew up watching the show will certainly wax some emotional nostalgia the way this film can deliver. Especially if the movie doesn’t make your small heart bigger, you need to see a doctor.
The story is your basic melodrama about one man with personal issues that he has to overcome with the help of a famous person. It makes sense it would have Mr. Rogers whose character fits the mentorship part without the cliché grumpy old man personality. They do change it up by adding a weird middle sequence like something straight out of the Mr. Rogers-esque drama series Kidding with Jim Carrey. But despite that, it still works as a feel-good crowdpleaser that doesn’t have any cynicism of its own.
Though he’s not in the movie a lot, the kind and generous presence of Mr. Rogers is still being felt throughout the feature. Hanks brings the quiet, jolly, and smiling warmth of the beloved figure with flawless workmanship. Rhys also does a great job being the contrasting opposite of the TV host with believability. Whenever they’re in the movie together, you can see a battle of wits between optimism and anger unfold.
In this age of social divide, we need Mr. Rogers to guide us through these times, and “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is a reminder that anything can be possible. Maybe one day, we as a society should take his show as a way to bring generations together and learn to always be good to each other every day. It may seem like a tall order, but we can be sure that he would’ve wanted us to.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG (for some strong thematic material, a brief fight, and some mild language)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3.25 Stars (Out of Four)