Is there, perhaps, a more perfect casting for Mr. Rogers than Tom Hanks? Both men are generally regarded as among the nicest guys ever, and in Rogers’ case at least, that may not have been an exaggeration. Hanks has something of a resemblance to Fred Rogers, so casting choices like this one almost seem to make themselves.
As such, the immediate appeal to the new movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood seems fairly obvious. A talented actor like Hanks could probably pull off playing Mr. Rogers for some kind of biopic. There’s just one little thing about this movie: it isn’t really about Mr. Rogers.
Instead, the movie is about Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), a troubled investigative reporter assigned, seemingly out of the blue, to write a 400 word profile on Fred Rogers for an issue of Esquire about heroes. Vogel is more of the hard-hitting kind of guy who digs up dirt. Why ask him to write a short puff piece of the host of a children’s show? Part of it is Rogers himself agreed to talk to Lloyd, and Lloyd has his own problems stemming from abandonment issues over his largely absentee father (Chirs Cooper).
What follows is less about Fred Rogers and more about what Fred Rogers’ general kindness did for a trouble man. The movie does make it clear Rogers isn’t a saint in a roundabout sort of way. Other characters briefly discuss his shortcomings in ways that can show when Fred is feeling perhaps a little frustrated. But Fred Rogers is the same man away from the camera as he is in front of it. He teaches kindness, forgiveness, letting feelings out in ways that don’t cause pain, and the ability to just listen to people. He may speak in a simple manner, but there’s a wisdom to what he says. And yes, eventually this rubs off on Lloyd in ways that are both expected for a movie like and completely bizarre at the same time.
In fact, that may be what makes this movie standout a bit. Director Marielle Heller and her writers frame the entire movie like an extended episode of Mr. Rogers ‘Neighborhood with Hanks’ Rogers coming onscreen singing the opening song, changing his sweater and shoes, and then addressing the audience as he sets up the story. Heck, there was one scene where I was sure Hanks’ eye changed position to subtly look directly into the camera. And that’s not even getting into the establishing shots that look like the miniature cityscapes from the show.
And that leads me to what is probably going to be my most controversial opinion for a movie that is often either generic for the genre: as much as Hanks does a good job playing Fred Rogers, I don’t think he quite nailed the part. True, Hanks probably came closer than just about any other actor living today could hope to get, and he is still quite good in the movie, but he just couldn’t quite match Fred Rogers sincerity. Maybe if I hadn’t seen last year’s documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor, than maybe I wouldn’t be quite so quick to think so. But that documentary beautifully illustrated what made Fred Rogers special and why the world needs more people like him, especially at times when it seems like there’s a lot less of what he taught out there. Granted, I am generally inclined to think the world is always like this and it only seems worse as you live through it, but the point stands. There’s a sincerity and authenticity to Fred Rogers that no actor, no matter how talented, may actually be able to recreate.
Beyond that relatively minor quibble, I found this a rather delightful movie. Maybe the lessons of Mr. Rogers can still be taught without Mr. Rogers. They probably have to be.
Grade: B+
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