Adapted from the audio book by Frances Longrigg, The Land of Sometimes is a callback to the the glory days of Disney animated musicals. Featuring songs composed by Tim Rice and Olly Thompson, working off a screenplay by Martin Casella and Tony Nottage, The Land of Sometimes is the latest film by longtime animator and director Leon Joosen. It also features the final vocal performance by Terry Jones. Terry Jones passed away in 2020, dear reader, so you may well imagine this film has been worked on for some time.
The craftsmanship of The Land of Sometimes is apparent in every cell of this lovely film. While it is computer animated, its done so in a manner which strongly suggests hand drawn scratch made animation. Enough with the applause, you want to know what The Land of Sometimes is about. At least, dear reader, I very much hope you do.
“This is the land of Sometimes/The land of now and then” booms the Wish Collector (Ewan McGregor). The Land of Sometimes is, in fact, a magical island where wishes come true. The Land of Sometimes cycles through all four seasons in a day. During that time, a child is bestowed three wishes. The wishes must be concluded successfully before the end of Winter. If the child fails to do so, they are trapped on the island as it crumbles back into the sea, and are transformed into a permanent resident of The Land of Sometimes.
” … a child is bestowed three wishes …”
Enter our protagonists, Elise and Alfie (Alisha Weir and Andrei Shen). Their father is on a seemingly never-ending tour of duty for the British navy. Their mother (Jessica Henwick) is at her wits end. Trying to find some common ground with her children, she gifts them their father’s old Wish Watch (Terry Jones). When Elise wishes for “a grand adventure” she catalyzes the long dormant Wish Collector into action. Coming to their home in a parrot shaped vessel, The Wish Collector whisks Alfie and Elise off to the The Land of Sometimes.
What transpires in The Land of Sometimes is nothing short of magical. With great whimsy and wonder Frances Longrigg’s imagination comes to life in brilliant, eye-popping color. This is the sort of film families have wanted for a long time. A tale with a great lesson that’s applicable to one’s life, told in a fantastical way. And the songs… Tim Rice may not be generating the hits he used to back in the 90’s, this is true. However, the songs here are all delightful. Especially the title track. Ewan McGregor’s soaring vocals on The Land of Sometimes guarantees that song is going to be an ear worm for me, and I could see many father’s attempting it during lullaby sets for the children.
The Land of Sometimes is a lovely adventure for the entire family. I wish I knew the release schedule. If it comes by you, dear reader, check it out. This is cinematic wonder which inspires future careers in either movies, musicals, or both. This is a truly great film, The Land of Sometimes.
"…a lovely adventure for the entire family"
