The Thompson family up sticks and moves to the deepest countryside in an attempt to rekindle a simpler way of life; where the children soon discover a fantastical tree, taking them off to magical faraway worlds.
Based on a series of four books written and published by Enid Blyton between 1939 and 1951, we have a single film bringing all the much loved novels together. Directed by Ben Gregor, The Magic Faraway Tree has been brought up to date making this a comparatively short but oh so sweet film more relevant for today’s audience. Written by Simon Farnaby, who has also scripted some brilliant works including Horrible Histories and the beautiful Paddington 2, we are once again dropped into a colourful world or in this case, worlds; where an elegant simplicity shines through. Starring a plethora of great British talent we have the loving parents Polly and Tim Thompson played by Claire Foy (the Queen) and Andrew Garfield (Spider-Man). The innocence and sheer magic however lies with their three children Beth, Fran and Joe Thompson played by Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Billie Gadsdon and Phoenix Laroche who deliver a simplicity and charm through their wonderful dialogue that works so well in these modern fast moving times. With an all star cast, including Nicola Coughlan as Silky, Jennifer Saunders as Grandma Thompson and Nonso Anozie as Moonface, the story moves along at quite a pace.
After Polly quits her job and with a feeling their children’s minds are being lost to electronics, the entire family are forced to leave their comfortable suburban life behind them and with it rekindle a simpler, purer existence living in a dilapidated barn without any amenities. There are some changes to the original books from the overall slower storytelling, elimination of lesser characters and old English names; though this is not such a bad thing for the length of the film. I appreciate the immediate audience is for the younger members of life though I could quite happily have spent another 30 minutes in the world expanding on Dame Snap’s darker land for example – played by a criminally underused Rebecca Furguson – to increase the element of dread making the colourful world seem brighter still.
The Magic Faraway Tree also takes the adults of the audience back to a simpler time of eminently more peaceful weekends before the immensely sophisticated yet highly detrimental internet was a thing. Based predominantly from the child’s perspective of Fran, this film cuts to the chase and takes us up, up and away without too much filling and cumbersome backstory. From their daughter who has become introverted due to tech, the opening up of her character once more shines through, although it could be said a touch too hastily. What could have been a grey view back to ‘yester century,’ has in the hands of a witty Farnaby, and director Gregor, recreated some larger than life on screen characters in a magical world using the joy of Blyton’s original writing. Giving us more time in the Land of Birthdays or with Dame Snap would have taken this from a good film to something quite wonderful. It is however a beautifully acted, charm offensive of a sunday afternoon film.
Based on the skimming of the story telling; although still expertly created, this film is not in the classic territory. The worlds are beautifully written and designed, yet the timing in each hinders what could have been something quite special. Go for the joy of wonderment as you are transported into other worlds and revel in the apparent simplicity Faranby has given us.
Author: Piers, Maidstone Store
