A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: A Review

Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers

The release of A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD couldn't have been more timely.

In it, Tom Hanks plays Fred Rogers. The film is based on a real-life relationship between Rogers and journalist Tom Junod (called Lloyd Vogel in the film).

It's not a beautiful day for Vogel. He's a hard-hitting journalist assigned to write a fluff piece on Mr. Rogers. And Vogel isn't especially thrilled at the assignment.

For one thing, Vogel is smack in the middle of dealing with his own father issues. For another, Vogel is about to become a father himself, which complicates the whole concept of being a dad. 

So life for him is anything but sweet.

However, if there ever was a fortuitous writing assignment for Vogel, this one was it.

The film skillfully portrays the intersection of  Vogel's (AKA Junod's) life with that of Fred Rogers. It gives us a very personal glimpse of how wonderfully Rogers' gentle wisdom, patience and honesty impact the struggling journalist.

What makes the film work is Tom Hanks, who brings an almost preternatural ability to his performance. At several points in A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD we're left wondering how much of himself did Hanks transfer into his work.

And then there's Matthew Ryhs. He is intense but nuanced in what could have easily been turned into an over-the-top portrayal.

The real Fred Rogers

Ditto Susan Kelechi Watson as Vogel's wife, Chris Cooper as Vogel's father, and most especially Wenda Makkea as Fred's wife Dorothy. 

Although Makkena isn't in many scenes, in every one of them it's apparent that her relationship with Rogers was important and impactful.

Mariella Hellner's deft director's touch is reflected in all of the performances mentioned above.

It is worth noting that A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD happened to premiere the weekend following a very intense week of impeachment proceedings in Washington. It would be safe to say that after hours of political bickering, a film that gives us a front-row seat to the importance of human kindness was like a breath of fresh air.

As a bonus: One of the most profound scenes in the film captures what happens when a group of New York City-seasoned children spots Mr. Rogers riding with them on the subway.

It's absolutely precious. As is A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.