BRIAN VINER on The Magic Faraway Tree: Blyton’s magical tale is a ripping treat for Easter

Verdict: Oak-solid family treat

Verdict: Hit-and-miss comedy

Our children are all grown now, but my wife and I still clearly remember how much joy we felt reading them the same stories we loved as children, decades ago. Though, I have to admit, my attempts to get them interested in the Jennings books didn’t work out – they were much more captivated by Harry Potter!

Enid Blyton managed to stay popular with new generations, though her Malory Towers books faded away like the Jennings novels. However, kids today still love the quirky and sometimes spooky adventures in The Faraway Tree series, just as their parents did. It’s wonderful to finally see those beloved characters come to life on the big screen!

Ben Gregor, the director of The Magic Faraway Tree, is known for his work on television. The screenplay is by Simon Farnaby, who has a strong background in feature films, including the popular Paddington 2 (2017). He’s particularly skilled at creating stories that appeal to both children and adults. Both Gregor and Farnaby have done an excellent job adapting these classic stories, originally published in the 1940s, for a contemporary audience.

The film boasts a fantastic cast, with Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield leading the way. The story begins with Polly Thompson (Foy) making a bold decision – she resigns from her lucrative job as an inventor, even one of quirky gadgets like a talking refrigerator. This forces Polly and her kind but somewhat clumsy husband, Tim (Garfield), to leave their comfortable city life behind. They decide to embrace a simpler existence, moving to a rundown barn in the countryside, hoping their three children will benefit from a life connected to nature.

It’s definitely a handful! Beth, the oldest at sixteen, is a typical moody teenager who’s very vocal about social issues. Her younger brother, Joe, is completely absorbed in video games. Enid Blyton, the author, would be utterly baffled by it all.

Despite mistakenly calling her Fanny, she would have known the youngest child, Fran. Fran, played by Billie Gadsdon, doesn’t speak unless she chooses to, but Silky the fairy (Nicola Coughlan) sees how imaginative she is. When Fran starts talking again, her parents, Tim and Polly, are overjoyed, but they don’t know what caused her to finally speak. Silky then introduces Fran to a large tree in the nearby woods, which is rumored to be dangerously magical, guarded by a mostly incomprehensible farmer (Farnaby delivers a very funny scene, keeping one of the film’s best jokes – a clever one about Wi-Fi – for himself).

Fans of the story will remember the magical tree is home to a host of wonderful characters, including Moonface (Nonso Anozie), Saucepan Man (Dustin Demri-Burns), Mr. Watzisname (Oliver Chris), and Dame Washalot (Jessica Gunning). The tree also carries Fran, and later her brothers and sisters, to different fantastical lands – lands filled with spells, treats, everything topsy-turvy, and, thanks to appearances by Lenny Henry, Michael Palin, and Simon Russell Beale, a land of all-knowing experts.

Down on the ground, Tim is busy growing tomatoes, hoping to sell his homemade pasta sauce. However, his plans are threatened by what’s happening far above in a magical tree – but we won’t give away any secrets! This film is wonderfully charming and unique, yet it also reminds you of classic children’s movies like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory.

Similar to beloved classics, this film balances heartwarming moments with genuinely dark elements, featuring Rebecca Ferguson as the menacing headmistress, Dame Snap, and Jennifer Saunders as a stern, German-accented grandmother. However, it’s not as scary as films like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and won’t likely frighten children. Released right before the Easter break, The Magic Faraway Tree is a reliably enjoyable film for the whole family.

Splitsville evokes the feel of classic relationship comedies from the 1950s and 60s, like Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. The film, written by Kyle Marvin and Michael Angelo Covino (with Covino directing), stars the two as best friends, Carey and Paul, who are married to Ashley and Julie, respectively.

The movie tackles the idea of open marriages with a lighthearted, though occasionally uneven, comedic style. While it doesn’t quite land every joke – and the upbeat jazz music feels a bit forced – it’s still an engaging watch. Plus, a script that throws in references to Abraham Lincoln, Walt Disney, Malcolm Gladwell, Meatloaf, and the movie Vanilla Sky has to have something going for it.

Also showing…

As a lifestyle observer, I’ve noticed a constant stream of horror movies lately! It seems like every week brings another one. Apparently, this is all about attracting Gen Z – those young adults between 16 and 25 – who really love the genre. The film industry is definitely focusing on what appeals to them and trying to get them back into theaters.

We recently played Ready Or Not 2, which was enjoyably violent. This week’s game, They Will Kill You (rated 15, 94 minutes, 2 out of 5 stars), doesn’t quite hit the mark. It’s a comedy-horror that starts with some suspense but quickly becomes overly silly.

Zazie Beetz stars as Asia, a woman haunted by guilt after fleeing her abusive father and leaving her younger sister behind. Years after attempting to kill her father and serving time in jail, Asia begins a search for her lost sister, eventually finding her at a luxurious Manhattan hotel secretly controlled by a disturbing cult.

Similar to Uma Thurman’s character in Kill Bill, the protagonist is capable of handling her adversaries. However, when things truly escalate, the over-the-top violence, combined with noticeably poor special effects, undermines any attempt by director Kirill Sokolov to emulate the style of Quentin Tarantino.

Sergei Loznitsa’s film, Two Prosecutors (rated 12A, 118 minutes, and earning four out of five stars), is a gripping and disturbing look at the Soviet Union during the height of Stalin’s terror in 1937. Though the violence isn’t often shown directly, the film is powerfully unsettling. I first saw it at the Cannes Film Festival last year, where it rightfully received an award.

The story follows a principled young prosecutor who discovers that upholding justice is nearly impossible when facing a deeply corrupt system where incompetence and dishonesty are rewarded. It’s easy to see how this resonates with issues happening today.

All films are in cinemas now.

2026-04-21 05:29

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