A charming escape from the everyday
The film is just as much about escapism as it’s about what we’re escaping from. In the early scenes, the family is disconnected, glued to their screens and barely speak to one another. As their batteries die and signal bars diminish, some of the magic of the tree finds its way into the family’s home.
It’s a contrast many parents will recognise - the glazed look on our kids’ faces while they scroll or watch YouTube, and the creativity and connection that remerges when devices are put away. The film also celebrates unsupervised play, which Johnathan Haidt recommends alongside getting rid of smartphones as a key part of a healthy childhood in The Anxious Generation.
Despite touching on such pressing cultural issues, the film manages never to veer into heavy-handedness with its core message; and because of this, kids will genuinely enjoy it. I took my smartphone-loving 13- and 15-year-olds, who both gave it the thumbs up.
The sharp humour, slick production and mix of child and teenage characters give the film broad appeal, but primary school aged kids aged 6 to 11 will likely get the most enjoyment out of it.
If you take your kids to see this film, be prepared to be struck by the urge to take them to the best climbing tree you know, preferably with the worst mobile signal.