Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy star in The Magic Faraway Tree, a family fantasy film based on Enid Blyton's classic book series, now playing in U.S. theaters after opening in the UK earlier this year.
The story follows the Thompson family - Tim (Garfield), Polly (Foy), and their three children - as they relocate from the city to the English countryside. There, youngest daughter Fran discovers a magical tree inhabited by eccentric characters like Moonface and Silky, leading the family into fantastical adventures that pull them away from their phones and back toward one another.
Critics have been split on the film's execution, but consistent on its heart. Rotten Tomatoes' critic consensus calls it "warm, charming, and quietly uplifting," delivering "a playful mix of whimsical characters, gentle humor, and a timely message about unplugging." Variety noted the film celebrates "old-fashioned family entertainment with old-fashioned family values," following a family forced to put down their devices and reconnect with each other and the natural world.
Family-focused outlet Plugged In highlighted the film's central message even more directly, pointing to Tim's "sacrificial love for his family" as the emotional core of the story, alongside its cautions against children's screen dependence.
The film carries a PG rating and has earned $31.4 million at the worldwide box office so far.
