The Magic Faraway Tree – Film Review
Reviewed by Harris Dang on the 30th of March 2026
VVS Films ANZ presents a film by Ben Gregor
Screenplay by Simon Farnaby Based on The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
Produced by Pippa Harris, Nicholas Brown, Danny Perkins, and Jane Hooks
Starring Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nonso Anozie, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Gunning, Jennifer Saunders, and Rebecca Ferguson
Cinematography Zac Nicholson
Edited by Gary Dollner
Music by Isabella Summers
Rating: G
Running Time: 110 minutes
Release Date: the 26th of March 2026
The Magic Faraway Tree tells the story of the Thompson family. They consist of stay-at-home dad Tim (Andrew Garfield), electronics engineer Polly (Claire Foy), and their children, the silent and timid Fran (Billie Gadson), the technology-dependent Joe, and angsty older sibling Beth (Delilah Bennett-Cardy). Their family is stagnant as everyone operates in their own orbit until their situation drastically changes. Polly is fired from her job for refusing to allow her company’s new smart fridge to spy on its users (complete with an amusing Judi Dench voice cameo).
With little to no financial stability, the family back moves back to where Tim grew up in the countryside. They rent a barn that was mistakenly remembered as a house. While the children complain about the lack of Wi-Fi (leading to a funny gag, delivered by screenwriter Simon Farnaby in a small role), the parents plan to grow tomatoes and market their own pasta sauce.
While the children are in the open and free from technology, Tim warns them about entering the enchanted woods. This ironically satiates Fran’s curiosity and sees her venture into the woods. She sees the titular tree and meets a colourful cast of characters. They include the fairy Silky (a bubbly Nicola Coughlan), the grumpy Moonface (a pompous Nonso Anozie), the unfortunate Mr. Watzisname (a morose Oliver Chris), the confusingly dressed Saucepan Man (a brash Dustin Demri-Burns), and the helpful yet quickly irritable Dame Washalot (played with jolting anger by Jessica Gunning).
Meanwhile, Beth’s suffering in the country alerts the children’s impossibly rich and privileged grandmother (Jennifer Saunders), who threatens the Thompson’s way of life. Will the children grow and learn the ways of life and become a loving family again before their grandmother upends it?
Director Ben Gregor works solidly to keep the story’s pacing and beauty palatable and wondrous. The film’s brainchild is screenwriter Simon Farnaby. He is best known for his comedy stylings in The Mighty Boosh and cinematic contributions in children’s entertainment, Paddington 2 (2017) and Wonka (2023). This earned him plaudits for balancing sincerity and wit within precocious fantasy.
He adapts the titular source material by transposing it to a modern-day setting. He also imagines plentiful gags about the death of childlike wonder in a world of technology. Thankfully, the film is never a slave to modern pop culture. Instead, it keeps the spirit of Enid Blyton’s work intact. Farnaby even calls out Blyton’s questionable writing choices. For example, the name Dame Snap was formerly known as Dame Slap due to references to corporal punishment.
The cast are all game and deliver performances that are hilariously pantomime, joyfully spirited, or enjoyably precocious. Seeing Rebecca Ferguson, Mark Heap, and Jennifer Saunders chew the scenery is a genuine pleasure. Meanwhile, Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy fit in beautifully with their heart-warming work. It is a bittersweet reunion since their pairing in Breathe (2017). The lead child stars also perform admirably as they engage in the fantasy.
As for its flaws, the film is episodic. It lacks a driving force to propel the storytelling forward. It leads to a rushed and slapdash third act. To be fair, the same can be said for the Blyton books themselves. The episodic feel also lends itself to parallel subplots. The fantasy plot and the tomato farming storyline can feel bifurcated and do not necessarily correlate convincingly.
Overall, The Magic Farnaby Faraway Tree is a wonderfully whimsical, heart-warming piece of work. It transposes its source material into a modern setting with felt sincerity and effective wit. It is also a reminder that childlike wonder will always be timeless.
Summary: The Magic Farnaby Faraway Tree is a wonderfully whimsical, heart-warming piece of work.
4
Strong
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