The Magic Faraway Tree
The Hollywood Reporter • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The Magic Faraway Tree, adapted from Enid Blyton’s 1943 novel, struggles to captivate audiences beyond very young children due to its overly sweet and twee tone, despite featuring stars like Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield.
- The story follows a family relocating from London to the countryside, where the children encounter magical characters in the titular tree, but the plot becomes cluttered with numerous fantastical figures and subplots.
- Performances by seasoned actors such as Jennifer Saunders and Rebecca Ferguson stand out, with Saunders’ sharp humor providing some relief from the film’s saccharine atmosphere.
- Screenwriter Simon Farnaby, known for Paddington 2, fails to inject comparable wit or charm, and Garfield’s portrayal of the father feels overly manic and juvenile.
- Visually, the film impresses with imaginative costumes and vibrant pastel colors, but the relentless brightness and busy design may tire viewers before the film concludes.
