FILM REVIEW: THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE (U) ESP RATING: 4/5

A colourfully chaotic adventure that truly earns its ‘fun for all the family’ badge.

The Magic Faraway Tree brings Enid Blyton’s beloved classic to the big screen in a vibrant, big-hearted adaptation directed by Ben Gregor, with a screenplay by Simon Farnaby.

Having previously worked on family favourites like Paddington 2, Farnaby brings that same warmth and humour here, while also giving the story a noticeable modern polish – updating the tone and dialogue just enough to make it feel fresh without losing its original charm.

The story follows a group of siblings who stumble upon a magical tree hidden deep within an enchanted forest – a tree that stretches into the clouds, with ever-changing lands waiting at the very top.

Each visit brings a new world, packed with strange rules, colourful characters and plenty of unexpected chaos. Along the way, they meet the tree’s eccentric residents, including Moonface (Nonso Anozie) and Silky (Nicola Coughlan), as their adventures test both their imagination and courage.

The film boasts an impressively stacked cast, with Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy – as the kids’ parents – Jessica Gunning and Simon Russell Beale (to name a few) all clearly having a great time – and that energy really translates on screen.

My whole family came along to see this film with me – including a seven-year-old and a sixteen-year-old – and everyone’s verdicts influence what is written here.

This is one of those movies where, because it’s so visually pretty and constantly introducing new and unexpected worlds, you never really get a chance to get bored. There’s always something happening, something to look at, something just around the corner. And when you’re taking kids to the cinema, that’s always a massive win.

But while it was an enjoyable experience overall, it’s not without its flaws. The film builds up this big, supposedly terrifying villain throughout, but by the time she actually appears, it feels more like a cameo than a proper third-act payoff – which is a bit of a let-down.

There are also a few moments towards the end where things feel slightly rushed. Certain ideas and emotional ‘beats’ could have landed with much more impact, but instead feel like afterthoughts, with very sudden build-up.

That said – and this is important – the target audience really isn’t going to care about any of that. Those are observations through a more critical lens.

When it comes to the younger viewers, it’s a completely different story.

My son was absolutely mesmerised – genuinely glued to the screen, watching with his jaw dropped for large stretches of the film. The seven-year-old even said it could be one of the best films he’s ever seen. And even the sixteen-year-old came away really enjoying it.

When films claim to be ‘fun for all the family’, it’s not always entirely accurate – but this absolutely deserves that moniker.

A few narrative stumbles aside, this has plenty of magical branches to conjure up a joyfully imaginative adventure.

ESP Rating: 4/5

Mike Clarke

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UFhePH68Ac

Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Billie Gadsdon, Phoenix Laroche, Nonso Anozie, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Gunning, Simon Russell Beale, Lenny Henry, Mark Heap, Jennifer Saunders & Rebecca Ferguson

Running Time: 1 Hr 50 Mins

Director: Ben Gregor

Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough

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