THE MAGICIAN'S ELEPHANT
Cert PG
100 mins
BBFC advice: Contains mild threat
That's better - an animation with a story to engage adults and children.
The Magician's Elephant starts off slowly but builds into an adaptation worthy of the novel by Kate DiCamillo.
It stars Noah Jupe as the voice of Peter - a young boy orphaned during the bitter war which left a shroud over the previously vibrant town in which he lives.
Peter has been told by his guardian (Mandy Patinkin) that his baby sister also died in the war but he is convinced that she is alive because he has a memory of holding her.
And his hopes are heightened when he visits a fortune teller (Natasia Demetriou) who reckons he will find her if he "follows the elephant".
This provokes him to be very excited until it is pointed out that an elephant has never been seen in the village.
But where there is magic, there is always potential for enchanting adventure and fulfilled dreams.
The Magician's Elephant is essentially a story of indefatigable spirit and the battle between the possible and impossible.
Its computer animation is a bit clunky for my taste but its heart is in the right place, it does a beloved book justice and has some lively tunes.
Reasons to watch: Poignant animation
Reasons to avoid: Very slow start
Laughs: Two
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7/10
Did you know? The Magician's Elephant has been adapted into a stage musical by the Royal Shakespeare Company.
The final word. Noah Jupe: "I loved Peter's energy. He's just so up for anything. He's so passionate about finding his sister and about the elephant. He's just got so much life to him, and he gave life to me and energy to me. I really loved playing him for that." Screen Rant
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