The Land of Sometimes Review: Starry Voices Fail to Elevate Patchy Fantasy Adventure
An ostensibly impressive voice cast featuring Ewan McGregor, Helena Bonham Carter, Mel Brooks, and the late Terry Jones headlines The Land of Sometimes, a new animated fantasy film aimed at children. Despite this constellation of talent, the movie ultimately proves to be a lackluster and wearing experience, primarily due to its focus on two deeply unlikable young protagonists.
A Casting Mystery and Disappointing Leads
One curious element involves the voice casting for the Guardian character. Online credits list David Walliams in this role, while the film's actual credits attribute it to the relatively unknown voice actor Stefan Ashton Frank. This discrepancy adds an odd footnote to a production already struggling with more fundamental issues.
The central problem, however, lies with the twin protagonists, Elise and Alfie. These children, who occupy the majority of the film's runtime, are not voiced by any of the headline stars. Elise is portrayed as profoundly annoying, while Alfie remains frustratingly nondescript. Their journey, which involves wishing themselves into a magical realm and navigating various scrapes, becomes a chore rather than a charming adventure.
Uninspired Music and Dated Storytelling
The involvement of legendary lyricist Tim Rice also promises more than it delivers. The musical numbers feature uninspired couplets such as, "Come on make a wish, do not be afraid of this," which suggest recycled material from older, discarded projects rather than fresh, engaging work. This contributes to a pervasive sense of creative exhaustion.
The film's aesthetic and narrative approach feel regressive, falling into the trap of ersatz DreamWorks storytelling. The visual style often resembles a generic screensaver, and the dialogue blends awkward cod-Roald Dahlisms with pseudo-inspirational messages about hugging and learning. Even Ewan McGregor, voicing the Wish Collector, cannot salvage lines like, "You don't need wishes, you never did, you just needed each other." For both parents and discerning children, the material remains disappointingly thin.
A Missed Opportunity for Family Entertainment
While it is tempting to nostalgically claim that children's animation was superior in the past, The Land of Sometimes demonstrates a clear step backward in quality. The film fails to leverage its star power effectively, instead centering on protagonists who alienate rather than endear. The result is a fantasy adventure that feels more like an obligation than an escape.
The Land of Sometimes arrives in UK cinemas from March 20th, offering families a cinematic experience that, despite its famous voices, ultimately proves to be a tedious and unsatisfying journey.
