THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE

The Magic Faraway Tree bursts with imagination and wonder to deliver a fantastical adventure for the entire family that with a strong supporting cast, colourful production design and important messaging helps create a new family fantasy gem for today’s generation to fall in love with.

While we have seen an abundance of animated films made for younger audiences in recent years, many of which have great appeal to adults as well, there has been a lack of true family films this decade. There used to be an abundance of family films that were equally as entertaining for children and parents alike, that while telling child friendly stories, dealt with more mature themes and helped children grow up. Whether they be films like Mrs. Doubtfire, Home Alone and E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, or some of the most popular children novels being adapted for the big screen like The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter, there have been few films that have followed in their footsteps this decade, with the ones that have been released this decade are largely continuations or prequels to established family films. While not a notable series for North American audiences, Enid Blyton’s The Faraway Tree series has remained popular in the United Kingdom and is finally getting its big screen adaptation, and it's primed to become the next popular fantasy franchise for younger audiences. Given the film’s screenplay heralds from the co-writer of Wonka and Paddington 2, it comes as no surprise that The Magic Faraway Tree is both a wondrous adventure and heartwarming tale that ignites the imagination, that when paired with some serious talents from the likes of Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy and Nicola Coughlan, makes for the summer film that the entire family will be enchanted by.

There is a charm to the simplicity of The Magic Faraway Tree and the sense of imagination it lets run rampant throughout the film. Focused on world building with the magical creatures living with the forest, the Magic Faraway Tree itself, and the various fantastical realms it connects to, there is no grand franchise narrative being laid out which is refreshing. Instead, Simon Farnaby’s screenplay focuses on its messaging, the importance of children detaching from screens and technology and embracing their imaginations (updating the original novels for a modern audience), the importance of family, and the memories of childhood, which creates both an entertaining film for younger viewers and one for their parents that captures a moving nostalgia that will have them reminiscing on their childhood. By doing so, the magical adventure creates an infectious fun nature to the entire film, featuring lots of goofy humour geared towards younger viewers and some great laughs for the adults including a smart fridge constantly reminding about the outage of wine voiced by Judi Dench, and a strong emotional undercurrent that lets the characters take centre stage as the world is developed, laying the groundwork for the two sequels which are already in pre-production and filming set for next year. It’s a film geared towards younger viewers and their families, and those still young at heart, so it’s not likely to become a widespread phenomena but for its intended audience, The Magic Faraway Tree is the wholesome film audiences have been in dire need of.

Like so many family films, The Magic Faraway Tree features a talented cast of great actors to support the young child actors at the centre of the film. Coughlan is a delight as Silky, the fairy that Fran Thompson befriends, exuberating joy and curiosity at every turn, while also bringing a protective side to Silky as she watches out for the Thompson children’s wellbeing on their adventures across the realms. Garfield and Foy’s on screen reunion from 2017’s Breathe instantly recaptures their romantic chemistry, lighting up the screen with dynamic pairing that never for a second waivers. Their optimism and determination helps to create two loving parents for the Thompson children, bringing an undeniable wholesome warmth to the film that embraces viewers as they try to build a new life for their children, while Garfield finds an emotional depth that resonates with older viewers who are able to identify with the loss of childhood wonder as one grows up. Despite only having a small amount of screentime, Rebecca Ferguson brings a startling, authoritative rule to Dame Snap as one of the dark forces that Thompson children encounter on their adventures, as she leans heavily into the over the top nature of her character and matching the larger than life world her character inhabits with ease. Understated and calm throughout, Nonso Anozie is excellent as Moonface, the more rational and objective resident of the Magic Faraway Tree, as Anozie plays him with a wisdom and insight that not only creates a caring character, but gives the necessary undercurrent to one of the film’s most emotional moments.

Though, it is Billie Gadsdon, Delilah Bennett-Cardy and Phoenix Laroche who create the beating heart of the film as the Thompson children. Each of them captures their character with ease and the character traits that need to be corrected over the course of the story, bringing great growth to these characters as the Thompson children come to terms with the importance of family and imagination and break the grip technology has over them through their facial expressions and body language which shows the realization each child makes. There is no question that Gadsdon, Bennett-Cardy and Laroche are all good child actors, and the notion of two more films in The Magic Faraway Tree series in development should only excite fans to see them grow as actors on screen over the coming years.

Being a fantasy film focused on world building, the below the line production design is so important, and for the most part the artistic team behind the scenes succeeds! The costume and hair and make up design is inspired, capturing the magical elements of the characters of the Magic Faraway Tree with choices that match their character’s defining qualities and names, whether it be the bright white crescent shaped hair on Moonface, the green earthly costuming for Silky, or the villainous Mrs. Snap with a regal black and red headmistress outfit with a fantastical twist. The set decoration is inspired, giving each set a distinct feeling whether it be the overgrown and rundown cottage that the Thompson family moves into which has a cosiness to it, the Land of Goodies with its candy filled decoration that bursts with colour, or the Magic Faraway Tree itself which is full of magic and wonder in every little detail. Yes, the VFX work is sometimes not the greatest for the larger establishing shots where the CGI stands out from the actors and practical sets in a noticeable way, or the foreground appears soft as the CGI is not able to blend seamlessly with the physical elements of the sets, but with the colourful and magical world it helps to create, it’s easy for audiences to not focus on its shortcomings and be swept away by the magic of the story.

Every generation has grown up alongside a fantasy series, whether be on the big screen or in written form, and there is no doubt that not only will The Magic Faraway Tree introduce a new generation to Enid Blyton’s magical stories, but will become a core memory in their childhood. Destined to be mentioned alongside the film adaptations of the Harry Potter series and The Chronicles of Narnia, The Magic Faraway Tree is a delightful blend of fantasy and wholesome family values that enchants viewers of all ages while starting a new big screen fantasy series. With the winning supporting performances of Nicola Coughlan, Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy and Nonso Anozie alongside the young child actors, Ben Gregor’s adaptation of The Magic Faraway Tree is a wondrous time at the cinema for the entire family full of magic, heart and wonder thanks to its inspired and colourful production design that transports audiences to another world and a strong story centered around the importance of family.