Review of Five Children and It (2004) by Scott S — 21 Sep 2008

Your run-of-the-mill family fantasymovie. I found Izzard perfect for voicing the Psammead, but for non-fans of the comedian or pleasant familyfilms, there aren't many reasons to see this one. It's quite shallow, sometimes painfully so.

The plot is much like a simplified version of Narnia, and very predictable. I really like the idea of wishes that only lasts for one day, and the possibilities that brings to explore the characters and their paradigms. Therefore I found it very irritating that they stayed so stereotyped throughout the film. Secondly, I liked it when the formula of tales containing wishmasters was pronounced in the early film (that wishes are made, things go wrong and valuable lessons are learned), wich promises a slightly different moral. In the end though, it seems to conclude to just that.