A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

If you live anywhere other than America, you're probably asking 'Who the hell is Mr. Rogers?'. According to Wikipedia, Fred Rogers was a much-loved children's TV presenter in the US, whose show, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, ran between 1968 and 2001, teaching young children how to deal with emotional and physical concerns. I live in the UK and had never heard of the bloke until now, which made this already somewhat bizarre film about a rather unusual man even more of a surreal experience. Tom Hanks stars as Fred, who by all accounts was about as amiable a person as you would ever be likely to meet. Emotionally troubled magazine journalist Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), who has a reputation for writing scathing articles, is given an assignment to interview Mr. Rogers, but thanks to his genial subject's understanding nature, he learns more about himself than he does the loveable TV star. As a result of his emotional awakening, Lloyd is able to patch up his relationship with his dying father Jerry (Chris Cooper). Using Rogers' saccharine show as the launchpad for events, this film begins in offbeat territory with the introduction of Vogel via a picture board, and continues in this rather weird vein throughout, with quirky model city interludes, a freaky dream sequence in which Vogel becomes his old toy rabbit, a bizarre 'one minute silence' in a Chinese restaurant, and a strangely disturbing scene in which Rogers introduces the journalist to his puppets. To be honest, if it hadn't been for these more idiosyncratic moments, I would have been quite bored, for the familial drama is trite and rather predictable, while Hanks' deliberate performance, as accurate as it may be, quickly outstays its welcome. I'm guessing that those who have rated this film a 9/10 or more are all Americans of a certain age, who have allowed nostalgia to affect their judgement. My more objective rating would be 4/10.

I may be one of the few people who had no idea who Rogers was which extends, of course, to his media shows. All I could think of based on the title was an old Gary Cooper film (which I never actually saw) called Good Neighbour Sam, in which Cooper presumably traded on his 'nice guy' real life image. Tom Hanks seems to be cornering the current market as the poor mans' Jack Lemmon though Lemmon is of course the one they all have to beat in the basic decency department. Again the true story of an unlikely friendship between an entertainer and a non-entertainer mirrors, to a certain extent, the bond between Jazz musician Bud Powell and a French jazz fan which was fictionalized in Bertrand Taverniers' Round Midnight in which pianist Powell was transformed into a saxophonist. Despite the saccharine elements the film is ultimately moving and erll made.

6/10 - what was supposed to be a heartfelt love letter to the incomparable Mr. Rogers was much more fixated on an unlikable main character who only slightly redeemed himself

Just watched this with my movie theatre-working friend. We both were pretty enthralled by the way Tom Hanks portrayed the late kid show host Fred Rogers. It concerns Mister Rogers and his relationship with a reporter for Esquire magazine who's going through a rough patch when they meet. Now this reporter's name is changed for the movie so some of the events are dramatized for effect. Still, it's quite touching what is depicted on screen especially when Hanks as Rogers appears. Those silent pauses that happens throughout many scenes are also effective. I think I said enough so I'll just say I and my friend highly recommend A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.

A rare 10 for me. But I'll say why: I cried for 20 minutes straight after watching this on a flight home from the film mecca of the world....in that being LA. Tom Hanks absolutely crushed the character of Mr. Rodgers. On top of that, the way in which they told Fred Rodgers story through this personal connection of a reporter had me twisted and amazed. Mixing great storytelling with great filmmaking is difficult. That's why great movies are hard to make. But "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" made the most beautiful cake by mixing both sides of storytelling and filmmaking together.

How factual was this story? Don't know. But, I was impressed with how perhaps the importance of Roger's caring values, mannerisms/presence, communication skills were represented & condensed into this story of changing one person's (reporter) life. I preferred this script's characterization over just a doc approach.

Honestly for me a beautiful day in the neighborhood is mediocore as a film and if i have to choose i would rather watch documentry that come out last year over this but saving grace as we all expected was tom hanks as fred rogers who kills it with this role you could even say that he was even better at playing fred rogers then fred rogers himself,every scene hanks sold it with his likebelite and charisma ,and he gets a nomination for awards it wont be undeserved

I'm going to be honest, I was skeptical of this movie from the start, but boy am I glad I was wrong. I have adored Mister Rogers since I was a young girl & I didn't like the idea of someone else playing him. But Tom Hanks truly embodied Fred's spirit & presence to the point where I almost forgot it wasn't Mister Rogers! This movie used so many small moments in big ways that were gut-wrenching & raw. It makes you feel seen & exposed in a way that is humbling. Mr. Rogers has always inspired me to grow & become the best version of myself possible & I'm ecstatic that A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood does his name justice. Truly a joy to behold.

The main virtue is to remind basic, fundamental things, from parenthood, past fundamental mistakes to the forgiveness and friendship as cure of old scars. The second - the admirable performance, almost more than acting, of Tom Hanks. Not the less, the art to be a mirror front to viewer.

This is an lovely movie about a journalists encounter with Fred Rogers, a kids' TV host who is the sort of person that can make a cynic believe the goodness of at least some people. I often find Tom Hanks patented sweetness too sugary, but he hits Rogers beautifully, creating a nuanced portrayal of someone who's not just good but who makes a conscious choice every day to be good. The movie is funny and charming and well worth watching.