THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE – Review
Oh, sure, Labor Day is just a couple of weeks away, and most kids are already back in school. However, that doesn’t mean that there can’t be a few new family-friendly flicks opening at the multiplex this weekend. Now, I’d say that next week’s big movie is truly “all-ages”, though this one opening today is really aimed at the grade-schoolers. Unlike the recent sequels and “game IP” like the Marios, here’s a feature with literary roots, proving that the big-screen adaptations aren’t limited to Seuss and C.S. Lewis. Here’s a tale taken from a book series that started way back in 1939. Not to worry, this is very much set in the modern world. It explores how some 21st-century tech-savvy pre-teens might react after encountering THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE.
This is the tale of the Thompsons. The family of five is led by dreamy stay-at-home papa Tim (Andrew Garfield) and inventor/breadwinner mama Polly (Claire Foy). They’re a bit flustered that their three kids are too attached to their “devices” and “screens”. Despite the protests of Tim, his dinnertime pasta dishes are ignored by eldest daughter Beth (Delilah Bennett-Cardy), son Joe (Phoenix Laroche) donning a VR visor for gaming, and concerningly quiet youngest daughter Fran (Billie Gadsdon). The meal ends as Polly returns home from work and drops a “bombshell”. She quit her appliance designer job over the company’s “spyware” being installed on her creations (a fridge that records your eating habits). And since her company owns the flat where they reside, a new home must be found. But Tim has a plan. They’ll get an old farmhouse near where he grew up, far away in the countryside, where he can harvest tomatoes for his special sauce. The kids aren’t keen on it, of course. But as they hike from the train station to their new abode, Fran sees an odd purse near the trail. Spotting something moving in the foliage, she holds it out, and the purse is snatched away…by something. Actually, the purse belongs to a fairy named Silky (Nicola Coughlan). That night, she leaves a note in Fran’s room. It’s an invite to visit her at the “Magic Faraway Tree” out in the woods. With her parents occupied with rehabbing the place (no electricity), Fran walks to the location and is greeted by Silky and her unusual pals, Moonface (Nonso Anozie), the Saucepan Man (Dustin Demri-Burns), and the washerwoman Dame Washalot (Jessica Gunning). Aside from her laundry chores, she also sends the group away to other strange realms like the “Land of Sweets”. the “Land of Birthdays”, and the ” Land of Spells”. Eventually, Fran’s siblings join her. It’s all fun and laughs until an impulsive wish wreaks havoc on the family’s new life. Can the magic of that tree somehow right this wrong and provide a “happily ever after”?
Anchoring this large, diverse cast are the two heads of the family, though they stay close to the new home rather than embark on the fantasy travels and travails. Garfield’s Tim is the optimistic, “glass half-full” go-getter, following his dream. As his partner and main cheerleader, Foy is a bit more grounded as she engulfs her offspring in the bracing warmth of maternal love. As those not-so-wee ones, Gadson’s Fran is the soft-spoken, nearly silent, adventuring explorer, ready to give in to the wonder. At the other end of the spectrum is Bennett-Cardy as the often abrasive and brash Beth, the sneering, snarky “squeaky wheel”, while Laroche’s Joe “goes with the flow” as he discovers thrills without tech. The other main “human” is the terrific Jennifer Saunders as their Gramma, who just wants the Thompsons to give up on this rural nonsense and return to the “rat race” of London. Magic and myth are well represented by Couglan as the sweet, ethereal Silky, eager to guide her new friends. Anozie’s Moonface is all royal, oblivious bluster, while Demri-Burns is quite funny and absurd as the “mis-hearing” cookware-clad sidekick. Rounding out the ensemble are plenty of delightful English legends; there’s even a “Python”, with winning “bits” from Michael Dapaah as the “goodie policeman’ (“Dun’ be greeedy!!”) and Marc Heap as the irritated and bombastic Mr. Oom Boom Boom. Perhaps the biggest villain, not counting the Beth/Gramma “tag team,” is Rebecca Ferguson who appears to be having a blast as the sour, ill-tempered horrible headmistress Dame Snap.
As I mentioned earlier, this is adapted from a celebrated book series by author Enid Blyton. Bringing it to life are director Ben Gregor and screenwriter Simon Farnaby (he worked on two of the great Paddington films). The latter does “double-duty” as the farm’s daffy caretaker (“I got wify’!”). They keep the story rolling along briskly from the “real world” to the wonder-filled lands. Kudos to the art departments for their creativity and imagination, especially on the rainbow roller-disco “Birthday” backdrops. This story is indeed filled with “wide-eyed” whimsy, but other than a dark turn with Dama Snap, it’s fairly benign and toothless, which can make the overly sweet segments treacly and far too tame. It’s a great “first movie theatre” experience for the “pre K” moppets, but for a fable railing against the onslaught of tech, TOY STORY 5 has more bite (or byte) and inspired satire. The photography gives the Farm a nice golden glow, along with a shiny fairytale focus for the interior tree and the destinations. There are some good “messages” expressed, but their delivery is strained by the sincere sweetness inside THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE.
2.5 Out of 5
THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE is now playing in select theatres
