In Britain lives a family known as the Thompsons. There is Tim, Polly, and their 3 children. They include Beth; a teenage girl, Joe; a young boy and an 8-year-old girl named Fran, who hasn’t spoken in a while.

The kids are highly addicted to technology. Despite their cheerful father, who just wants to spend time with them, they are not interested.

At some point, Polly learns that her job has secret cameras spying on everyone. Therefore, she decides to quit.

The family then moves to a farmhouse in the countryside. While Tim is excited about growing tomatoes and starting a business with that, the children are disappointed in the lack of technology.

As Polly is tucking Fran into bed, Fran speaks for the first time after so long of staying silent. She says that she saw a fairy.

Of course, her mom shrugs it off as imagination – but gently and kindly. Despite that, a pixie and enchantress named Silky sneak into Fran’s room right after Fran falls asleep. They invite her for tea at this place in the woods called the magic faraway tree.

Tim and Polly ask Fran not to sneak out into the woods and trust her. Yet Fran figures out how to and goes to that magic faraway tree.

She meets Silky and some fairies. However, Moonface, who is in charge, does not approve of humans being in the tree. Nevertheless, he decides to let Fran stay.

Later, everyone is taken to the Land of Goodies, which is up in the sky. The tree grows and a ladder to it is made.

Once there, they are greeted by a mythical being whose 1 rule is no greed. However, danger happens at some point. Fran even gets stuck in a tree.

Although not intentional, she is accused of being greedy and is penalized for it briefly. Yet she is saved by her allies, including Silky. After that, everyone with Fran has a dance party together.

Meanwhile, Beth is composing a letter to her grandma, complaining about the tech-free household she lives in.

Tim and Polly are confident that Fran is still in the house. But they then realize that she has snuck out.

That evening, Fran returns home. Tim is happy to see her. But Polly is somewhat disappointed in her running away like that. Regardless, both parents forgive her.

Sometime later, Tim and Polly want Beth and Joe to spend more time with Fran. Although they resist at first, they are willing to do so.

The 3 kids return to the magic faraway tree. They end up in the Land of Birthdays.

Then they meet some birthday elves who ask them each to make a wish. They all do so. However, they must flee thay land shortly after.

For the next few weeks, the Thompsons end up growing closer together. That is because the children are becoming more imaginative.

But when Tim holds his tomato festival, the tomatoes are rotten. Beth had made that wish in the Land of Birthdays just so they could go back home and have technology.

But Beth now feels guilty of this. She and her siblings go back to the magic faraway tree to reverse that wish.

However, mishaps happen. And stakes continue to rise.

Unlike many other fantasy movies, which take place in medieval-like settings, this one focuses heavily on contemporary life and issues – particularly technology such as electricity and Wi-Fi.

Speaking of which, I loved when the owner of the farmhouse “answered” Beth’s question to if there was Wi-Fi. He said he had a wife – aye. That was absolutely clever and hilarious.

Not surprisingly, this movie was based off a series of children’s fantasy novels – specifically, the second book in The Faraway Tree series.

However, the books were written in the 1940s. Therefore, there was obviously no Wi-Fi.

While many fans dislike when film adaptations of novels are too unfaithful to the source material, I’ll admit that this was one of the exceptions. Focusing it on a family in contemporary times where technology is so advanced makes it much easier for today’s audiences to relate to – including adults.

Another strength was how Silky reminded me of Luna from the Harry Potter movies. However, she was not played by the same actress, Evanna Lynch. Yet the character remained likable.

While on the topic of actors, I was surprised to learn that Andrew Garfield played the father, Tim Thompson. I was even more surprised to learn that Andrew Garfield is actually British himself. I had thought he was American because he was in so many American movies such as 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man.

I also applaud the filmmakers for having a black man play Moonface: Nonso Anozie. In this case, inclusion is being used in a satisfactory manner. His fake beard and costume made him look more like a typical fantasy leader.

The world building was not overdone. The balance between the fantasy elements and the realistic real world was done just right.

Overall, I enjoyed The Magic Faraway Tree. The contemporary setting and themes will definitely make it appeal to kids as well as grown-ups.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars.