Darcie 
Just in time for Easter, Darcie reviews the charming family movie, The Magic Faraway Tree. But is it a winner, or simply old hat?
The Magic Faraway Tree has hit cinemas just in time for the Easter school holidays. The film is an adaptation of Enid Blyton’s book series The Faraway Tree, which was first published in 1939. Ben Gregor has adapted the characters and world for modern audiences. So will it be a holiday hit? Or will it fail to impress viewers?
PREMISE
A modern family learns to reconnect after being forced to move to the remote British countryside and discover a magical tree from where they are transported to spectacular and fantastical lands.
THOUGHTS
Unfortunately, for a film that should be full of wonder and magic, it falls flat for the majority of the run time. It is unable to reach its full potential. The Magic Faraway Tree is one of those films where the trailer is more enchanting than the actual film. Style-wise, we get a Paddington look, a colourful, quirky, timeless style that works perfectly within the Paddington universe. However, here it just looks like a copy. This style is also becoming overused in British films; its charm is diminishing with every film. In this case, this type of style doesn’t perfectly reflect the whimsy of the narrative or the characters.
The film takes on its own style once we enter the magical realm, which is exciting. The lands in the sky, which are accessed by a ladder, are the best part of this film. The worlds in the sky are well crafted, if limited. Only four of these lands are actually shown in the film. The Land of Sweets is fun and colourful; it truly feels like a place a child would dream up. The Land of Birthdays is limited. There is a buffet of food, but nothing else, like balloons, ball pits, and bouncy castles, which would have made it even better.
The Land of Dame Snap is bland, and we get an intriguing look at the Land of Potions. However, the time there is ruined by a random musical performance. There are a number of other lands that we do not even get to see, which is a shame. A quick montage of the lands would have been a nice addition to really showcase the variety and the uniqueness of the world.
THE NARRATIVE
The Narrative is a bit of a jumble, jumping into the film without a build-up and much-needed context. Warnings about a haunted woods and a glimpse of a fairy happen within minutes of one another, never allowing any intrigue to build. As the film progresses, it crams in some great context haphazardly. Several moments, like the musical performance, feel completely out of place. However, nothing feels more forced than the character of Villain Dame Snap, played by Rebecca Ferguson. She doesn’t even appear until halfway through the movie and has minimal impact on the plot. In fact, the film wouldn’t change at all if her character were removed.
The film features some standout moments, such as Tim (Andrew Garfield) confidently believing he will one day speak Italian, and his oldest daughter Beth (Delilah Bennett-Cardy) having a birthday wish that becomes the central challenge for the characters to tackle. Beyond this, the bonds between the Thompsons, Tim and Polly (Claire Foy), and their three children are fun to watch as they develop and learn.
There is some great commentary on the impacts of technology on children and family life. The film is designed to cater to children raised on technology, delivering instant gratification and avoiding the need for them to pay attention or wait for payoffs. I really do love the overall message. Turning to a life of innovation, fun, and play, without screens and disconnected family values
WONDER, EXCITEMENT, AND FEAR
Now, if you were a child who had just discovered a magical world, you’d be full of wonder, excitement, and probably an inkling of fear. You certainly would not be expressionless. Now, this isn’t just an issue with The Magic Faraway Tree, but there is a flatness to the performances of characters in really exciting situations. There are no excited expressions, or running or general merriment; it’s just bland. This makes it difficult for audiences to feel excited by the magic. The magical inhabitants of the tree, Silky (Nicola Coughlan), Moon Face (Nonso Anozie), and SaucePan Man (Dustin Demri-Burns), also lack magic and enthusiasm.
Most of the time, they made little sense as characters, with no motivation; they were surface-level, neither creating a lasting impression nor an emotional connection. The build-up to their induction was halfhearted, which did not help. Not even the acting brilliance of Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy can distract audiences from the overall bland acting of the majority of the cast.Â
VERDICT
 Overall, The Magic Faraway Tree should have been a magical, whimsical film; instead, it is bland and muddled. There was a lot of potential here for a really fantastic, enchanting film. Children will probably still enjoy it, and hopefully, the message of getting away from technology and back to playing will resonate with audiences in a positive way.
The Magic Faraway Tree is in cinemas now, courtesy of Entertainment Film Distributors
Darcie Gray is the Fashion Editor of The Future of the Force. Aside from being a passionate Star Wars fan, she loves every genre of movies and she channels her passion for film into her personal blog Just Another Film Blog. Follow her on Twitter where she shares her love of film regularly.
