THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS

Release: Out now Genre: Family/fantasy Cast: Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Morgan Freeman

Afun journey through extravagant, syrupy realms, the latest Disney movie is an ideal Christmas lark.

Taking a trend of more recent times in books and movies, Disney has taken a classic and retold it — in this case, without the massive amounts of ballet as in Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker or the dark, sombre undertones of the original story The Nutcracker and The Mouse King.

However, there are elements of both originals in the film, and the tale remains just as enchanting and extravagant.

The film score borrows from Tchaikovsky’s work, as does the inclusion of some dance sequences featuring ballet star Misty Copeland.

One pleasing modern addition is the strong female main character, Clara, who is a physics-loving and smart teen mourning the recent loss of her mother.

Clara’s mother left gifts for each of her children to be given out on Christmas Eve, and Clara’s is a locked silver egg created by her godfather Drosselmeyer (Morgan Freeman).

In her search for the egg’s key, Clara ends up in the Four Realms where she must bring peace to the war-torn land.

We meet Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy, ruler of the Land of Sweets, Helen Mirren as Mother Ginger, tyrannical ruler of the Land of Amusements, Eugenio Derbez as Hawthorne, ruler of the Land of Flowers, and Richard E Grant as Shiver, ruler of the Land of Snowflakes — as well as mice and a Nutcracker, of course.

Costumes, sets and effects are as lavishly over-the-top as one would expect from a Nutcracker tale, and allow more forgiveness for plot flaws.

Overall, The Nutcracker and The Four Realms is a delightful film for the entire family to enjoy.