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‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’ review: Fantastical in more ways than one

A boy is removed from his depressing, ordinary life when he discovers a secluded haven for special kids with abilities. No, it’s not another “Harry Potter” movie, but the latest Tim Burton film, based on the 2011 novel “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.”

What happens?

Jake (Asa Butterfield) believes he might be going crazy after he witnesses the death of his grandfather, Abe (Terence Stamp), and sees a monster in the woods. His therapist (Allison Janney) suggests that his disinterested dad take him to Wales, where Abe grew up in a children’s home that served as the inspiration for Jake’s childhood bedtime stories. The trip is supposed to provide closure, but instead Jake discovers that his grandfather’s fantastical stories weren’t made up after all. Miss Peregrine’s Home is real, as are the gifted children who live there. But their refuge isn’t as safe as it seems.

What’s good?

Burton’s brand of weird is perfectly suited to “Miss Peregrine,” which gets creepier as it goes. That’s bound to happen when monsters are trying to eat children’s eyes. And only Burton could make a sunken ship’s skeleton-filled dining room semi romantic. Eva Green is commanding as Miss Peregrine, and the subtle, whimsical humor of Burton’s direction complements screenwriter Jane Goldman’s ability to tease out the mystery of the situation.

What’s bad?

Nearly everything here feels familiar, from the opening moaning teenage voiceover to the “you’re not ordinary” moral of the story. Elements that promise to provide more depth (like the fact that the children all seem slightly terrified of Miss Peregrine) never go anywhere special. But even if you’re willing to forgive the film’s tendency to retread well-known paths, “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” falls apart in its final act. The trouble is that the home exists in a time loop, so we eventually get into the muddy business of time travel. What the film tries to do is too complicated for 30 seconds of rushed and clunky explanation, and it doesn’t seem to care that at a certain point, nothing makes sense.

Final verdict

A charming (if familiar) story that doesn’t know how to wrap itself up.

2.5 stars (out of four)

@lchval | laurenchval@redeyechicago.com