Highly Overrated But Still Good

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

I went into this film with barely a passing knowledge of Mr. Rogers, motivated not by nostalgia but an affinity for a well-made documentary on an interesting subject. Won't You Be My Neighbor? succeeds on both fronts. Mr. Rogers is a fascinating individual and the film's strongest suit is its excellent exploration of the uniqueness of his program within the television landscape of the era. As a huge fan of Hayao Miyazaki and the films of Studio Ghibli, it was hard not to see some parallels between their visions: patient, often quiet, meaningful entertainment for children with a focus on substance over saturation. The battle that Mr. Rogers took up against the brainless, loud, mile-a-minute, overstimulating children's programming of the time feels just as relevant today with so many mainstream kid's films feeling vapid and hurried.So too, his message of unconditional acceptance. And given the fervor through which he flew that flag, it struck me as odd that the film shied away from a deeper exploration of the clash between his Christian values and his employment of least one gay actor (and friend) on the show. It was touched upon that Rogers insisted that this man remain closeted and even find a wife should he wish to continue on the show, a revelation which shook the film only to be brushed over. Having done some reading afterward, I've learned that he eventually withdrew from this stance when this actor's marriage eventually failed and ultimately encouraged him to find a male partner and live his life openly. Given that this was the lone point of contradiction in Rogers' ethos mentioned in the film, it felt quite awkward that it wasn't given more attention.Otherwise, the film did a fine job of exploring his character, particularly in the ways he manifested himself within the puppet characters on the show. Peppered throughout were also a handful of animated sequences depicting key themes and experiences of his childhood which gave context to the person he would become. There were still some missed opportunities for deeper exploration, particularly through his son and sister whose presence was very limited despite the unique perspective they must've had on the man.Nitpicks aside, Won't You Be My Neighbor? is a strong documentary that entertains, educates, and inspires.Strong 4/5

This is probably my favorite movie of the year. I feel so inspired! What an absolutely incredible man!

I will see this more than 1 time. This man is peace, quality and so ahead of his time, he saved over 5 generations of kids that survived despite all of the democrats trying to break us, he was a voice of love and acceptance in our heads. Please watch this amazing movie. I remember scenes like it was yesterday.

A lot of times, the breadth or reach of a documentary depends on how large of an audience it can appeal to. So many times, documentaries focus on a niche subject with a similarly small viewership base. "Won't You Be My Neighbor" is able to bypass this problem, however, but focusing on a man that seemingly everybody knows: Fred Rogers.For a basic overview, "Neighbor" follows both the life/career of Fred Rogers, as well as setting that in parallel to his iconic "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" show on public television. Rogers' family (including his wife and two sons) are interviewed, as well as those who worked on and starred in the show with him.In a political and social climate where hate and "mean-ness" seem to spew from every nook and cranny, "Neighbor" provides the perfect hour-and-a-half balm for that, as one of the strong suits here is showing just how genuinely "nice" of a man Fred Rogers was (which is what inevitably came out in the show and ultimately made it such a treasure). It was also interesting to learn that Mr. Rogers was an ordained minister, voted Republican, and championed inclusion and equal rights his entire life. Those things don't necessarily track in today's world, so it is nice to see someone who wasn't "one or the other"."Neighbor" is equally fascinating on how Fred's show was so different than anything else on the air (public or otherwise) at that time. He practically saved the entire public television model (testifying before a commission about its worth), and then used it to tackle issues that are difficult for children to deal with, talking to them in a very straightforward yet kind way. He was absolutely fearless in this respect, also using silence and slow-pacing to intentionally counter-act the "pie in the face" and action/adventure Saturday morning kiddie fare he so despised.Overall, this is a documentary that will strike a chord with nearly every one of its viewers. Practically everyone on this Earth knows something about Mr. Rogers, and for so many of those people he spoke directly to them (through the television) on a consistent basis. It's supremely emotional, incredibly informative, and just a refreshing reminder of the simple (yet extraordinary) value of human decency and kindness.