The Land of Sometimes review – starry voices can’t mend a patchy fantasy adventure

2026-03-18 - 07:10

Ewan McGregor and Helena Bonham Carter lead an impressive cast in this magical tale – but its focus on two unlikable young protagonists proves wearing Here is a lacklustre kids’ animation with an ostensibly starry voice cast including Ewan McGregor, Helena Bonham Carter, Mel Brooks and the late Terry Jones. (Oddly, David Walliams is announced and credited online as voicing the Guardian, while the film’s credits indicate the role is played by the prolific but little-known voice actor Stefan Ashton Frank. Wonder what happened there?) However, it’s important to know before you watch that the lead characters who occupy most of the film’s runtime are two children not voiced by any of these luminaries. Young Elise and Alfie are twins who wish themselves into a magical world before getting into various scrapes. Sadly, Elise is deeply annoying and Alfie is a bit nondescript, which makes the whole thing rather a chore. Continue reading...