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Enid Blyton is regarded as one of the most successful authors when it comes to children's literature. Her series, 'The Famous Five', 'The Secret Seven', 'Noddy' and 'The Faraway Tree', have been staples of many childhood libraries since their debuts in the 1930s and 1940s. While Blyton's books have stood the test of time, on the adaptation front, there hasn't been much success or traction. The biggest would be the 'Noddy' series, which has six TV shows, the last of which ended in 2020, but on the film front, most of her work has been adapted internationally. 'The Magic Faraway Tree' marks the first time this series has been adapted for the big screen and takes Blyton's books back to their British origins.
The film follows the Thompson family. Polly (Claire Foy, 'All of Us Strangers', 'First Man') and Tim's (Andrew Garfield, 'We Live In Time', 'tick, tick...BOOM!') three kids, Beth (Delilah Bennett-Cardy, film debut), Fran (Billie Gadsdon, 2021's 'Cruella') and Joe (Phoenix Laroche, film debut), are out of touch with the real world and love their screens. Polly and Tim decide to move to the remote countryside not only to reconnect with the children but also to pursue the dreams they had since they first met. As they get used to their new life, the children find the Magic Faraway Tree, where they meet Silky (Nicola Coughlan, 'Barbie'), Moonface (Nonso Anozie, 2015's 'Cinderella'), Dame Washalot (Jessica Gunning, 'Pride') and The Saucepan Man (Dustin Demri-Burns, 'The Spy Who Dumped Me'). The Thompson kids and their new friends climb to the top of the tree and, each day, are transported to a new fantastical land.
Its stellar British all-star cast really makes this a funny and heartwarming ride, and while it has low stakes, the film is very engaging for the whole family thanks to the strong performances.
'The Magic Faraway Tree' is a great children's first fantasy film. Compared to films like 'The Chronicles of Narnia', 'Bridge to Terabithia' or 'The Spiderwick Chronicles', 'Faraway Tree' skews younger and leans more into the fun and whimsy of its world. Its stellar British all-star cast really makes this a funny and heartwarming ride, and while it has low stakes, the film is very engaging for the whole family thanks to the strong performances.
The plot is very surface-level, and this is not a bad thing; it's a disconnected family moving to a rural place, finding a magical land that teaches them lessons, leading them to reconnect. The film has no villain - they set out to visit a new land, there's some slight conflict, and everyone returns home. I kind of miss a simple, low-stakes, fun family venture, and 'The Magic Faraway Tree' is the perfect school holiday treat for those younger kids not quite ready for your 'Percy Jackson's' but wanting to expand away from 'Paw Patrol'.
'The Magic Faraway Tree' is a fun beginner's fantasy family venture. It's skews younger than many other live-action family fantasy films - but that's its advantage, along with the stellar British cast. If you just need a fun, wholesome piece of family media this Easter School Holidays, this is a top contender.
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