50 reviews
Typical Sky Production. Lifeless And Uninspiring.
I watched this with my wife who will watch anything with a bit of magic or fantasy in it. While not truly awful, it was pretty much next door. It looked poorly budgeted and the creature looked like a 1980 spitting image creation. A special mention for Russell Brand. Awful. Yes, I know it's a kids film, but I can't see any child over six or seven not being embarrassed for him. Younger kids may enjoy it, but it's probably too long with not enough action or fun to keep them interested. I haven't yet seen a Sky original that I've had a good word for. Very missable.
- STEVE24BUS
- Apr 17, 2020
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Struggled to make it to the end
Normally don't write reviews, but this calls for it
- tinsel_head
- Oct 6, 2020
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Couldn't make it to the end.
The movie had a good story to it, seemed cute, but I couldn't even make it to the end of it with one of the characters being such a despicable out of control character. And the mother of, "Smash" AKA Samantha had no motherly morals at all. Just because she was a single mother, doesn't mean her children needed to be such pricks. Couldn't Even make it to end of it
- suellenmaforte
- Apr 21, 2020
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Excruciating
- Leofwine_draca
- Apr 6, 2020
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Another childhood classic is attacked
I couldn't even make it through the trailer. Talk about cringe. As if it wasn't bad enough that CGI monstrosity is absolutely disgusting and I want nothing to do with it. Foul creature. Lazy stupid film.
- injury-65447
- Jan 6, 2021
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Should Have Been Better
- neiljones1981
- Apr 9, 2020
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Just unwatchable
The family were all looking forward to watching this whilst in lockdown. The first 20 minutes were just dreadful and our kids, aged 14 and 12,
and my wife all agreed to give up on it. Maybe it gets better, but to us, the first 20 minutes represented everything that's wrong with parenting and filmmaking.
- mike-denton
- Apr 16, 2020
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I only watched it to hate it.
I am 70 years old and have such great memories of reading all of E. Nesbits books as a child. I could so easily despised this as a needless and tasteless updating of a beloved classic. The film was a major surprise. I laughed in parts. There were adult jokes clearly meant to go over the heads of the children but I suspect the children will love this. Loved Michael Caine as the Psamead. Brand was a let down which was a shame Completely miscast in probably the worst role in the movie. Forget the fact it is not a great plot I just hope the kids have fun.
- jack_hanley
- Apr 12, 2020
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Why try and improve on perfection?
- FlossieCat
- Apr 17, 2020
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Brilliant 'feel good' family film!
I felt like a kid again watching this! I was glued the whole way through! Really entertaining and just overall a lovely film for the whole family to sit and watch together!!
- sammidizzle
- Apr 7, 2020
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Five Children and It.
- nogodnomasters
- Apr 26, 2020
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WHY!!!
This is the biggest piece of rubbish I've seen, you've spoilt a classic with this half baked and lame rip off, what can you expect from such a poor author.
Poor all round
Having seen the 1990s series I was aware of the basic storyline. Clearly the book is a classic but unfortunately this is let down in a number of ways.
The special effects to start with are terrible. The Pssammead is first introduced as it tunnels under the sand (think Tremors) and it looks awful. Later the children fly and it was very 1970s green-screenesque.
Then there's the acting. Michael Caine cannot do much wrong as a voice actor and Russell Brand is ok, the rest are terrible. It sounds awful to say about child actors but for a feature film it really wasn't great.
I don't know what the budget was, but I suspect after Caine and Brand there was nothing left.
The special effects to start with are terrible. The Pssammead is first introduced as it tunnels under the sand (think Tremors) and it looks awful. Later the children fly and it was very 1970s green-screenesque.
Then there's the acting. Michael Caine cannot do much wrong as a voice actor and Russell Brand is ok, the rest are terrible. It sounds awful to say about child actors but for a feature film it really wasn't great.
I don't know what the budget was, but I suspect after Caine and Brand there was nothing left.
- davidianbowley
- May 6, 2020
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Sky have failed AGAIN!
Zero charm, terrible acting, terrible casting. Sky originals just get worse and worse. Don't get me started on 'Blithe Spirit' and 'Twist'. If you see 'Sky Original' it basically means 'avoid'. Just awful
- johnnynotty
- Feb 20, 2021
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Ruined a good book
Ruined a good book , usual performance we come to expect from Russell Bland
- bclitherow
- Dec 12, 2020
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Not a Classic, but a good effort 👏
Yes, Yes I have got the title right! Oh you must be thinking about the 2004 movie, Five Children And It. This is a modern day version, bought completely up to date.
So David (played by Matthew Goode) and his daughter Ros (played by Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen), and son Robbie (played by Billy Jenkins) are seen setting off on a family holiday to Cornwall. On the way down, David tells the kids that there is a surprise when they get there! At the same time as this we see Alice (played by Paula Patton) also getting her family, which consists of 2 girls, Smash AKA Samantha (played by Ashley Aufderheide) and Maudie (played by Ellie-Mae Siame), an American family new to life in England.
The holiday is full of ups, downs and magic wishes with the help of someone very special.
I did like the film, and yes it wasn't the classic that you will have seen previously (whether that was the movie or the series), but it is fun and a very nice family movie. You will also spot some well known people that are in this movie. You don't need to search far SAND wide for them! I think its a good effort by Sky to produce this feel good movie.
- swowen-84128
- May 7, 2020
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What a disappointment!!!!
- theatredude36
- Jul 17, 2020
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A nice family adventure
It is a nice family adventure. It grants wishes, and makes people learn about love in a family. The coastal scenery is beautiful as well. I enjoyed it.
Lovely
Not an outstanding masterpiece, but I thought it was a cute film. And I think kids will love this one!
Slow and boring
After watching the preview I thought it would be good. There was nothing entertaining about this movie. My wife and I were looking after my niece and nephews (ages 2, 8 and 11) for the evening, everyone started losing interest after about 30 minutes. only the 11 year old watched it 'til the end, but half her attention was on something else. With the little bit of Russell Brand's screen time he wasn't funny at all.
- bmwi-86181
- Aug 21, 2020
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avnt read the book
To when it comes to term of entertainment and humble english fun, its a glory hole of mister sandmans wishing well, where everything might happen as long as the sun always shines on the beach.
howcome and why a grumpy old potter like me enjoyed this film is a hard to answer question, but a wish can be nice to have. the musical compound is lovely and the child actors brilliant and funny. its a roller coaster adventure for sure. very recommended
howcome and why a grumpy old potter like me enjoyed this film is a hard to answer question, but a wish can be nice to have. the musical compound is lovely and the child actors brilliant and funny. its a roller coaster adventure for sure. very recommended
Charming Movie for the most part!
It honestly was a very warming movie. All the actors were great except for the smash character. She was not a very likable character, just wished it was played by someone less abrasive. It's still, a good watch for the family. Absolutely LOVE Matthew Goode, he is a brilliant actor.
2 at MOST
Honestly I can't really pick out anything that was good about this movie.. The kids in it, SO unlikeable, ESPECIALLY Smash; you know you've made a bad move when the main protagonists, the ones you're supposed to route for, is just someone you want off screen.
The CGI in this movie, for 2020, is an absolute embarrassment. At one point they're flying through the air, and I haven't seen green screening that bad since the 1970s; you can achieve semi-realistic greenscreening with a shoe-string budget so I do not understand what the excuse was for this movie.
Also, could you have gotten a more irritating and irrelevant actor to play your villian? Russel Brand spends most of his time spouting conspiracy theories on YouTube, if this was his attempt at getting back into the mainstream, if anything it's just proven why he isn't a part of it anymore.
Honestly, you're wasting your time with this film. If you want to watch the story of 5 Children and It play out, I highly recommend you just stick with the 2004 version, where the characters, acting, CGI, and everything else, is just better.
Honestly, you're wasting your time with this film. If you want to watch the story of 5 Children and It play out, I highly recommend you just stick with the 2004 version, where the characters, acting, CGI, and everything else, is just better.
- ViciousCXY
- Dec 20, 2020
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Dreadful... but the kids love it.
The characters are vile. Two of the girls especially are spoilt, uncontrolled brats who are horrible to watch. The parents should be ashamed of their parenting skills, and the awkward situation they put their children in. The CGI is really poor by today's expectations. A puppet would have been far more convincing than Caine's uncharismatic Psammead. It's a really poorly made movie which does the original story no justice.
And yet, my children love it (aged between 3-6). They've got the choice of masses of movies from various streaming services and they keep coming back to this. All of the greatest family friendly movies from the last thirty years, and they choose Four Kids and It. I'm not sure whether this is because my children have dreadful taste in films or whether it is genuinely engaging for a younger crowd. Either way, it clearly appeals to its target audience.
And yet, my children love it (aged between 3-6). They've got the choice of masses of movies from various streaming services and they keep coming back to this. All of the greatest family friendly movies from the last thirty years, and they choose Four Kids and It. I'm not sure whether this is because my children have dreadful taste in films or whether it is genuinely engaging for a younger crowd. Either way, it clearly appeals to its target audience.
- pullenscript-82819
- Apr 8, 2020
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