Won't You Be My Neighbor? review

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?:

A CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE AND CAREER OF A MAN WHOSE TELEVISION LEGACY CAPTIVATED CHILDREN FOR GENERATIONS!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: **** out of 4

FOCUS FEATURES

Fred Rogers inviting us into his neighborhood in Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

            Director, Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom, Best of Enemies: Buckley VS Vidal) brings to the screen a documentary that honors the life of one of the most influential television personalities of all-time, Fred Rogers, star and creator of the beloved PBS series, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in Won’t You Be My Neighbor? I remembered watching a lot of Mister Rogers growing up, but it wasn’t something I watched on a regular basis, whenever I caught it on PBS or by watching episodes on VHS.

            Whether I was a frequent viewer of his show or not, there is no denying that Fred Rogers was a genius and was able to take stories from the bitter real world such as war, racism, and death and make them understandable to children, but he did it in an intelligent way. This film journeys into Rogers’ life, the history of the show, and where he got the show’s material and themes.

            The movie chronicles various moments in his life, from the time he spent on The Children’s Corner with Josie Carey on WQED, pitching the idea of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, and revolutionizing children’s television to making public appearances and fighting for PBS funding. Rogers didn’t just create a show for children, but he created a tool that he could use to get his thoughts and emotions across while retaining his nice guy persona.

            His widow, Joanne Rogers, Francois Clemmons who portrayed Officer Clemmons on the show, cellist, Yo-Yo Ma who guest starred in a couple episodes, jazz guitarist, Joe Negri who portrayed Handyman Negri on the series, and actor, David Newell who portrayed Mr. McFeely the delivery man, are interviewed in the film and they discuss what Rogers was like as a person, how he would always listen to their problems and incorporate them into the show, and of course, acknowledge how much he really liked them. They also bring up moments of his advocacy work, how he helped his co-stars and crew members through personal issues, and his now-famous testimony to the U.S. Senate committee and advocating government funding for children’s programming.

            Overall, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Is a poignant, nostalgic, and inspirational documentary that tugs at your heartstrings. You can really see the impact Mister Rogers has had on many of our lives and how he wanted to share his kind and insightful words of wisdom to the children of America and help them in rough times, not once was it an act.

            This is a man who wanted to bring some good in our lives, set a standard for children’s programming, and was able to take these adult themes and make them understandable to kids without talking down to them. In many respects Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, a show meant for children is much more adult and intelligent than it appears.

            Apparently not everyone caught on to the show’s brilliance, president Richard Nixon tried to cut funding from PBS and many people protested that he was either gay or that his morals were brainwashing children, most notably the “You are Special” message. Some angry parents even drafted their own children into protesting against Rogers, and they were extremely miserable.

            Mister Rogers wanted to share his words of wisdom and his love of children with the world and there were many rough times and controversies during the show’s broadcast run. For the kids who grew up with his show and the followers of what he stood for, it really shows that a simple act of kindness can go a long way.

            Every time footage of the show came on in the film I literally felt like a little kid again, this movie just takes you back to your childhood and you discover things about the development and history of the show that you never knew before. I don’t really see myself watching episodes of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood today, but the lessons he taught, imagination, and advocacy for children will stay with me forever.

            Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Is a beautiful day in the neighborhood to be had filled with laughter and tears and a thoughtful tribute to a television legend. Fred Rogers was a wise, down-to-earth man who wanted to entertain and make people happy when they’re going through rough times in a smart way because he respected kids and he respected adults.