Five Children And It Review

"FIVE CHILDREN & IT" reviews

Movie

FIVE CHILDREN & IT

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2005-10-25 21:37:36

Provider

Review

This charming little family film adapted from E. Nesbit's (The Railway Children) novel is drenched in heartwarming nostalgia.

Set during the summer of 1917, the film focuses on five siblings who've been evacuated to the seaside home of their eccentric uncle (Kenneth Branagh) while their fighter pilot father (Alex Jennings) and mother (Tara Fitzgerald) help the war effort. While exploring their new home, the kids find a secret stairway which leads them to a magical beach where they unearth 'It' (voiced by Eddie Izzard), an 8,000-year-old sand fairy who can grants them one wish a day. But with their wishes only lasting until sunset, what mischief can they cause?

One of the immediate things that grabs you about this film is that there seems to a very decent crop of young actors coming through the UK ranks at the moment. Freddie Highmore, who'll soon be seen as Charlie Bucket in Tim Burton's Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, is convincing as the rebellious Robert, while Jonathan Bailey manages to mix both responsibility and youthful enthusiasm as the elder Cyril. The adult stars perform admirably too (watch out for Norman Wisdom's cameo as a clumsy antique shop owner) but all are upstaged by Izzard and his offbeat musings as It.

Obviously revelling in his role, Izzard has the CGI/puppet star humming the theme from Countdown, wittering on about Yaks and generally knocking out jokes which will go straight over the heads of children and tickle their parents funny bone.

Blessed with a unique charm and promises of long, summer days, Five Children & It deserves a wish of it own: that many, many people go and see it.

Copyright © 2005.