Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures!

Featuring the voices of: Josh Hasler, Yvonne Grundy, Peter Andre, Keith Wickham, Teresa Gallagher, Rob Rackstraw, Nigel Pilkington.

On the island of Sodor, plucky blue locomotive Thomas (voiced by Josh Hasler) meets brash, yellow racing car Ace (Peter Andre), who is heading to the Senegalese capital Dakar, the starting line for a gruelling rally.

Ace encourages Thomas to abandon his duties for Sir Topham Hatt (Keith Wickham) and join him as he burns rubber on all five continents.

"You will be the first railway engine to go all the way round the world. That's probably never been done!" gushes the turbo-charged motor.

Without saying goodbye to fellow engines Emily (Teresa Gallagher), Gordon (Wickham again), James (Rob Rackstraw) and Percy (Nigel Pilkington), Thomas heads excitedly out to sea.

He encounters a wise African engine called Nia (Yvonne Grundy), who joyfully reminds Thomas that two sets of wheels are always better than one.

Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! The Movie is an extended chug down the tracks of the computer-animated TV series.

Directed with a light touch by David Stoten, the film achieves its modest ambitions with colourful animation and occasional toots of humour. Pacing rarely shifts out of the sidings. All aboard for 85 minutes of undemanding entertainment, which couples education with simplistic, hummable songs about friendship and teamwork.

Andrew Brenner's linear script is easily digested by pre-schoolers and promotes a timely message of diversity.

"We are bigger and stronger, Thomas, when we stay together," counsels Nia warmly.

Her sage words strike home when the film reaches its dramatic crescendo in the snow-laden mountains of China.