Simon Farnaby, co-creator of the beloved Paddington 2, has turned his hand to adapting Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree books for the big screen. The result is a thoroughly likable and sweet-natured family fantasy film, perfect for the Easter holidays, brimming with innocent jollity and eccentric quirkiness.
The film distils the Blytonesque spirit of adventure and outdoorsy fun, transferring it to a modern world where all generations are longing to escape electronic devices and AI. Farnaby and director Ben Gregor add a new dimension of comedy with black-belt character turns from a terrific cast, including Farnaby himself as a comedy farmer, and some grade-A gags.
Claire Foy plays Polly, a brilliant electronics engineer fired for refusing to let her firm's smart fridge spy on users. She, her househusband Tim (Andrew Garfield), and their children move to the countryside, where they discover a magical tree inhabited by beings like fairy Silky (Nicola Coughlan), Dame Washalot (Jessica Gunning), and the hapless Mr Watzisname (Oliver Chris).
The film also features Rebecca Ferguson as the evil Dame Snap, with an extraordinary asymmetric hairstyle, and Jennifer Saunders as the stern grandma. With touches of Narnia and the Shire, and a love of sweets and silly contraptions, this adaptation offers unpretentious enjoyment for all ages.
