4.5 stars out of 5
Even the trailer made me cry, so I couldn’t wait to see this documentary. I guess I had two main Mister Rogers periods in my life: I would’ve been among the second batch of devoted O.G. viewers in the early 70s. Then, in my college years, I wound up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was produced. An oversized photo of him was in the airport. And there were rumors he lived in a tall apartment building near campus. Was Mister Rogers still watching over us?
A couple of other things stick in my mind. As a teenager, I seem to recall Mr. McFeely — “Speedy delivery!” — making some sort of low-key weekend appearance at my high school. And at some point in my late teens/early 20s, I began watching the show again for a while. It was an oasis of calm in my rapidly changing life.
This film made me love Mister Rogers even more, if that’s even possible. There are a couple of surprises about him that we learn, but it all fits in the big picture. Many of the old crew, and Rogers’ family, are still around, and these ample interviews put meat on the doc’s skeleton. (Very happy to see McFeely and Handyman Joe Negri.) And spending so many decades in front of a camera, Mister Rogers gets to speak for himself quite a lot, too.
We discover his carefully thought-out philosophy behind the show and his never-ending dedication to children. There are heavy moments and light ones and so much joy too. Rogers is revealed to be human, beset by fatigue after crafting so many shows, and recurring self-doubt. But his never-ending supply of love wins out every time.
I would’ve liked a couple more biographical details, and a little more chronology of the show’s production. Also, his real-world visits outside his home to talented neighbors and interesting factories, which I always really enjoyed, aren’t really mentioned. But these are tiny gripes.
Who should see this? Well, anybody who loved Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, that’s for sure. But I also feel like it should be required viewing for new parents, even if they’re not familiar with the show. In our information- and marketing-saturated world, the simplest lessons for children shouldn’t be overlooked: That you’re special (which doesn’t mean you’re the best). That mistakes are expected and fine. That you’re OK just the way you are.
Jack Silbert, curator