Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Starring: Fred Rogers, Joanne Rogers, Jim Rogers, Tom Junod, Yo-Yo Ma
Directed by: Morgan Neville
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Documentary
2018

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Explores the life and impact of Fred Rogers.

Review:

Tim: Won't You Be My Neighbor? is one of the most positive, uplifting documentaries you'll probably ever see. Honestly, if you just want to feel good about humanity, if you want to be inspired to be a better version of yourself, this is the movie to watch. I was familiar with Mr. Rogers, but I can't say I was much of an authority on him. I watched the show as a child, but it was never the top choice in our house. I knew Rogers made a positive impact on the world, but I had no idea the extent to which he influenced and changed this country for the better. In the midst of the awful, evil times we're currently living in, we needed this documentary more than ever before. Rogers' voice, outlook, and demeanor are sadly missing in the current Trump America. This is a movie that will warm your heart.

What struck me most about this movie is the belief that Fred Rogers was a genuinely amazing person. I knew his persona from the show, but I admit my skeptical adult self always wondered if he was good as he appeared to be on screen. Based on this documentary (which admittedly, seemed more like a love letter to the man than anything else), the answer is yes- Fred Rogers was an advertised. That is almost impossible to believe- that any man could be this good. It gives me hope for humanity, though. Watching the impact Rogers had on those around him, plus the millions who've watched his show- it's stunning to think how he made this world a better place, one episode at a time.

The documentary does a fantastic job of telling the story of how Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood came into existence. It was such a unique show, one that contradicted all the expectations of children's television. You really have to marvel at the singular vision of Rogers and how he was willing to take big risks to do what he thought was right. There's probably no way this show should ever have worked- but it did, and to a greater extent than ever imagined. I found the early part of this documentary so fascinating, especially the behind-the-scenes footage of Rogers just talking about his vision and his beliefs. It was riveting and provided such insight into this television phenomenon. It was so entertaining and enlightening to see how the show evolved over years and decades, how it addressed some of the biggest, most challenging issues facing children in this country. Death? Divorce? The Challenger explosion? 9/11? Rogers covered all those and so much more. I learned so much from watching this movie.

Morgan Neville has a lot of documentary experience and it shows here. This is an expertly crafted film. The use of different kinds of footage, including some animation made for the documentary held our attention throughout. I never felt bored while watching this movie. It didn't feel repetitive, as it moved forward, always revealing more and more about this fascinating, unique man. Neville really did a fantastic job with this film.

If I have a complaint about the movie- and it's really the thing that held it back from being great- is that it feels like Neville is so over-the-top impressed with Rogers that it feels more like a press release and less like a fully rounded documentary. I'm not suggesting the documentary needed to dig up dirt on Rogers or be controversial. It does address the criticism that Rogers spoiled a generation by telling them that every person was special, but it quickly scoffs at the insanity of this claim. Maybe Rogers was 100% who he's depicted here, but I felt a lack of confidence in Neville's ability to portray all sides to the man. Whether there was another side to show or not, it felt like Neville had stars in his eyes about this person. That feeling nagged at me as I watched the film. It made me wonder if we were told everything or not. A bit more objectivity would have made this movie better.

But hey, don't camp on that last paragraph. I liked Won't You Be My Neighbor? so much. It's the best documentary I have seen in a long time and I'm hoping it gets an Academy Award nomination (and maybe a win?). It's a movie that will make your heart grow multiple sizes and bring some inspiration to your life. It is powerful enough that it'll make you a better person. I personally started rethinking some of the things I'd been saying to my son as a result of watching this movie. It wasn't anything bad, but I realized I wanted to be more loving, more positive and less critical. I love the movie for doing that. This is a film I would unhesitatingly recommend to anyone.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



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