Four Kids and It: Film Review 

Cast: Michael Caine, Paula Patton, Matthew Goode, Russell Brand, 

Director: Andy DeEmmony

British children's novel Five Children and It may have had its first life in 1902, but Edith Nesbit's book was also given a charming do-over in the form of a kids' TV series which ran in the 90s.

The 2020 film version (not the first of its kind) has its own charms, but they're intermittent at best in this remake that's come from the Jacqueline Wilson book of the same name.

When the Trent family heads to Cornwall, the two kids are devastated to find their newly-divorced dad (Goode, relatively effete in a thankless role) is bringing with him his new American girlfriend (Patton, stereotyped and cast aside) and her two brash unhappy kids in an attempt to achieve domestic bliss.

However, the kids make a discovery down on the beach that changes the holiday for good - a reluctant wish-granting sand fairy creature known as the Psammead who can make it all come to pass for 24 hours only.

But the Trent kids aren't the only ones who find the Psammead enchanting - the nefarious lord of the land (played with chutzpah and plumminess by Russell Brand) is also searching for the creature...

As mentioned, Four Kids and It as intermittent charm, and has some relatively likeable leads in the form of the kids.

The adults are less successful being there solely to irritate the children and feign anger at their squabbling. Not so Russell Brand who breathes a bit of life into the bad guy role he's been handed, giving his Lord Trent the kind of broad brush strokes a villain needs without deigning to steal any of the scenery.

Michael Caine adds a venerable note or two to the Psammead (a sort of cross between ET and a bunny) but is woefully held back from launching a grumpy tirade or two which would have given the film a much-needed edge.

Four Kids and It skews younger, with many under 10s likely to find some laughs and silliness where necessary, but adults may struggle to see what the old school raison d'etre is. 

Nesbit's book may have been a warning about being careful what you wish for (a message that's easily caught by any viewing audience) but Four Kids and It's dogged determination to stick to an old school format and lack of magic may prove a minor turn off for audiences during school holidays who are used to slicker less corny and gentle material.

There's some heart in the kids' performances and Michael Caine more than breathes life into the Psammead, but Four Kids and It needs a bit more sparkle to stay in the memory longer after the cinema's lights have gone up.