The book I agree is better with a charming story and memorable characters. This film on its own terms(which I will be judging this film solely on) is quite nice, if lacking a bit of lustre, however it is rather disappointing as an adaptation.
The best thing about 5 Children and It is the splendid performance of Eddie Izzard as It(very well-designed in animatronic style), and helped by endearing cheeky humour and an eccentric vibe. The story has a nice blend of mischief and magic and features very likable and oddball characters. The film visually looks very nice, the photography is pleasant enough while the sets and costumes are vibrant and colourful. Jane Antonia Cornish's music sparkles, the film does move quickly and there are some decent performances from Freddie Highmore, Zoe Wannamaker and Kenneth Branagh.
On the other hand, I don't think 5 Children and It is long enough, consequently there are some assets that fall short. I just wish the dialogue sparkled as much as the music score and that of the book, but a lot of it does fall flat with exception of It's. I was also rather disappointed in the special effects, not all of them were bad but some have a rushed and amateurish look to them. The direction has its moments, but there are occasions when it could have had more muster. While there are some good performances, some of the supporting cast resort to overplaying a stretch, Tara Fitzgerald seems a bit too eager to please.
So all in all, disappointing but quite charming on its own. 6/10 Bethany Cox
The best thing about 5 Children and It is the splendid performance of Eddie Izzard as It(very well-designed in animatronic style), and helped by endearing cheeky humour and an eccentric vibe. The story has a nice blend of mischief and magic and features very likable and oddball characters. The film visually looks very nice, the photography is pleasant enough while the sets and costumes are vibrant and colourful. Jane Antonia Cornish's music sparkles, the film does move quickly and there are some decent performances from Freddie Highmore, Zoe Wannamaker and Kenneth Branagh.
On the other hand, I don't think 5 Children and It is long enough, consequently there are some assets that fall short. I just wish the dialogue sparkled as much as the music score and that of the book, but a lot of it does fall flat with exception of It's. I was also rather disappointed in the special effects, not all of them were bad but some have a rushed and amateurish look to them. The direction has its moments, but there are occasions when it could have had more muster. While there are some good performances, some of the supporting cast resort to overplaying a stretch, Tara Fitzgerald seems a bit too eager to please.
So all in all, disappointing but quite charming on its own. 6/10 Bethany Cox