Anyone hearing of a movie starring Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers and titled A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood might well expect simply a biopic of the justly famed child entertainer and educator. The potential viewer might also be forgiven for thinking such a film is redundant in light of the excellent documentary of a year ago: Won’t You Be My Neighbor? In fact, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is less about Mister Rogers and more about a fictional character and his relationship with the actual Fred Rogers.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood tells the story of a fictional reporter named Lloyd Vogel, “inspired by” two men who became friends with Fred Rogers in real life. Tim Madigan in his book I’m Proud of You credits Rogers with helping him face his own problems and to deal with the crises in his life, including reuniting Madigan with his estranged father. Tim Junod, having sullied his journalistic reputation by outing Kevin Spacey, was assigned to write a short article about Fred Rogers for a series of articles on heroes to be published in Esquire magazine. For Junod, this seemed to be an insult – after all, how could he, an award-winning journalist, be asked to make a hero of the meek and mild child entertainer? To Junod’s surprise, though, Fred Rogers was far more complex and challenging than expected. Instead of a short article, a 10,000-word profile, “Can You Say … Hero?” was first published in Esquire in 1998.
The script, by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster, impressively works the motifs and tropes of these two stories into a moving narrative about the redemption of a man compelled by the gentle promptings of Mister Rogers to face his own demons. As such, it also shows how Rogers was far more interested in the stories of others than in answering questions and talking about himself. A reporter’s nightmare, he tended to answer questions with questions, often leading to uncomfortable and sometimes unwelcome self-confrontation by the reporter. As a result, the film is about the interviewer rather than the interviewee. Vogel is movingly portrayed as having issues with his father, his wife, and even his new state of fatherhood.
Award-worthy acting and the deft direction by Marielle (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) Heller elevate the film above the script, which some will find maudlin and sentimental. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood continually strikes the right emotional notes with truly affective resonance.
On and off screen, Tom Hanks has always managed to project a “nice guy” persona, one he apparently quite deserves. Here he impressively captures Rogers’ ability to be present to others, doing so with a look, a gently stated question, and an occasional moment of exuberance, as well as moments of uncomfortable silence, beautifully conveying the charm of Rogers without losing sight of the person with whom he is interacting.
A well-matched Matthew Rhys as the reporter, Vogel, develops from slight contempt for Rogers, through learning to trust, to acceptance of himself and a final loving embrace of others in his life. Equally effective is Chris Cooper as the flawed father. Most outstandingly, Susan Kelechi Watson as Vogel’s wife shows dignity, strength, and understated conflict, in which she is sustained by real love.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood gently and often humorously does for filmgoers (of no matter what age) what Mister Rogers did for millions of children via television: challenge and help them to reflect on themselves, accept themselves, and find the strength to face their deepest concerns.
Mister Rogers himself was an ordained minister of his church and a prayerful man of deep faith. Without preachiness, the film acknowledges this. As Rogers accompanies Vogel on his journey, audience members are subtly invited to consider the values that are important in life and to find their way towards whatever personal redemption they may be in need of.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is not ostensibly a “faith film,” but it persuades its audience to value and observe the tenets of Christianity. This is indeed the perfect holiday gift for the whole family. Take an extra supply of tissues!
