PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND

PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND has real artistic strengths. Its storyline is whimsical despite its dark subject, the entire cast gives strong performances, and the directing carries you into the troubled inner world of a nine-year-old girl. The film also reaches a hopeful point as Phoebe’s parents begin helping her through psychiatric treatment.

But the journey is heavy. Phoebe’s outbursts, troubling thoughts, rituals, and antisocial behavior may disturb younger viewers. The film also includes overt expressions of disbelief in God and other negative elements, even though the foul language is relatively minor.

For adults who want to explore a serious drama at home, it may offer worthwhile discussion. For children and young teens, choose something else.

Nine-year-old Phoebe is artistic and creative, and she finds refuge in the theater while performing in her school’s production of Alice in Wonderland. But troubling thoughts and behaviors increasingly disrupt her life.

When an authority figure removes her from the play, Phoebe’s imagination becomes more prominent. The people around her begin to appear through the lens of Alice in Wonderland, while her parents try to understand what is happening and how to help.

Two stars means this film has worthwhile qualities but significant limitations. The performances are very strong across the cast, and the directing effectively carries viewers into Phoebe’s troubled world.

The storyline also contains much whimsy for a film about such dark subject matter. Phoebe becoming more like Alice can be fun, and the imaginative elements give the drama a distinctive identity.

Still, the film’s bleak focus on mental illness, along with its troubling worldview and other negative elements, limits its appeal. It is an imaginative, well-acted drama, but not an easy or broadly recommendable viewing experience.

The film presents a strong humanist worldview. Phoebe and Jamie express disbelief in God and replace prayer with superstitious efforts to obtain the roles they want. The story includes some moral elements, including a positive father figure, but it does not ground its central concerns in belief in God.

The film treats Phoebe’s unique perspective and creativity sympathetically, while psychiatric treatment becomes part of the help her parents provide. Its portrayal of authority is less positive: the principal is ineffectual, teaches the children poorly and disrespectfully, and becomes an example of failed leadership.

The story also presents Jamie as a boy who plays with dolls and receives the role of the Queen. When other children use a homosexual slur against him, the Drama teacher explains that men played great women’s roles in Shakespeare’s day. The movie makes clear that this storyline represents Jamie’s orientation, though it never explicitly says that he is homosexual.

The film’s attention to a troubled child’s inner life can encourage compassion, but its disbelief in God leaves human identity and suffering without a biblical foundation. Scripture affirms that every person is made by God: “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).

PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND is imaginative and strongly performed, but its dark subject matter and atheistic references make it unsuitable for children and young teens. Watch it at home only if you are a discerning adult prepared for the material. Our verdict: WAIT FOR HOME — ADULTS ONLY. For a gentler family choice, see.