The Magic Faraway Tree
Andrew Garfield, Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Phoenix Laroche, Claire Foy, and Billie Gadsdon star in THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE. (Photo: Vertical)
The idea is more enchanting than the execution in The Magic Faraway Tree, which amounts to an analog adventure trying to justify itself in a digital world.
Adapted from a series of 1940s children’s books by British author Enid Blyton, this whimsical fantasy saga at least promotes a healthy sense of imagination, even if the script’s real-world circumstances are contrived.
Boasting a lovely visual backdrop including an array of colorful dreamlike landscapes, the film has its gentle charms yet overdoses on cute quirks.
Updated to the present day, the story opens with aspiring entrepreneur Tim (Andrew Garfield) moving his wife (Claire Foy) and their three children from the suburbs to a fixer-upper in the remote English countryside so he can focus on launching his homemade tomato sauce business.
When they arrive, of course, the kids are incredulous about the lack of wi-fi or basic amenities. As son Joe (Phoenix Lacroche) asks, only half-joking: “Have we gone back in time?”
Joe’s younger sister, Fran (Billie Gadsdon), is more open-minded as she ventures out into the nearby woods, opening a portal that leads her to a treetop kingdom populated by eccentric oddballs — with nicknames such as Moonface, Saucepan Man, and Dame Washalot — and strange new worlds.
Eventually, Joe and recalcitrant older sibling Beth (Delilah Bennett-Cardy) come around and realize that some of the magic in the branches can impact the fortunes of their struggling family, especially the perpetually optimistic Tim.
As directed by television veteran Ben Gregor (“Cuckoo”), the episodic structure gradually reveals new lands and characters, some more memorable than others.
The central conceit in the screenplay by Simon Farnaby (Wonka) lacks sophistication and feels somewhat derivative, amounting to a low-key throwback saga that might try the patience of contemporary children. It also lacks meaningful conflict, save for a bit of manufactured climactic villainy to raise the stakes.
Along the way, the film conveys some heartwarming if obvious messages about ingenuity, appreciating the little things, and valuing human connection over addictive technology.
However, The Magic Faraway Tree is unlikely to spark the same sense of wonder and curiosity in young moviegoers as it does for the preteen protagonists — their affinity for sugary treats notwithstanding.
Rated PG, 110 minutes.