As we all know, "Puff the Magic Dragon lived by the sea and frolicked in
the autumn mist in a land called Honallee". But what about Jackie
Paper? Where did he come from? This movie explains. Jackie Draper is a
young boy who is so withdrawn that he is in a coma-like state. His
parents bring in a number of specialists, but no one seems to be able to
help him. No one, that is, until Puff comes along. In order for Puff to
take Jackie on his journey of pure imagination, Jackie must be rid of
the extra baggage of his body. So his "living essence" is transferred
onto a paper cutout of himself drawn by Puff. The voyage is ready to
start.
As the song indicates, the two set sail across the sea
on a boat with sails made of pillows. This was Jackie's idea, one of the
first in a long string of problems that he will need to use his
ingenuity to solve. In order to do anything, he has to get past his
fear, which is what has paralyzed him.
One of his most
frightening experiences occurs when he and Puff venture into the
territory of a huge pirate, Very Long John. Puff encourages him to see
past the pirate's rough exterior, and Jackie lets his imagination run
wild despite his fear. This allows him to see the pirate as a baker, and
he puts this image into play when Long John asks him for his last
words. The fierce pirate vanishes almost instantly, replaced by a cheery
baker.
The most difficult challenge lies in Puff's homeland
of Honallee, which has been taken over by large talking noses and
redubbed The Isle of the Living Sneezes. These creatures are very
unhappy, and they have made Honallee a miserable place to be. Puff is
distraught at what has happened to his home, but Jackie uses the problem
solving skills and imagination he has acquired on this trip to come up
with the perfect solution to everyone's problems (to the tune of Peter,
Paul and Mary's Weave Me the Sunshine).Afterwards, he is ready to
go home and begin really living, and though he does leave Puff, the
movie leaves a more optimistic feeling at the end than the song does.
Both the boy and the dragon are ready to go on with their lives, each
the better for their friendship.
This is a cute movie
encouraging the use of the imagination to dispel fears. I wouldn't put
its quality up there with Disney or Don Bluth, but anyone who loves Puff
the Magic Dragon should see this at least once.
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