Playmobil: The Movie

On the heels of direct competitor Lego’s film release, Playmobil: The Movie is a surprisingly charming, witty family feature that celebrates the bond between brother and sister.

When struck by tragedy, Marla (Anya Taylor-Joy) loses the love of adventure that she had once shared with her younger brother, Charlie (Gabriel Bateman). However, everything changes when magical elements interfere and the pair find themselves thrown (quite literally) into the Playmobil universe. Dark forces soon intervene, meaning that Marla must begin on an exciting yet dangerous quest, supported by the comedic food truck driver, Del (Jim Gaffigan), to rescue Charlie from the clutches of evil – recapturing everything she thought she had lost about herself in the process.

The film’s thematic focus is rather complex for what very easily could have been another gimmicky movie, full of forced pop culture celebration and a throwaway storyline – a feat that should be celebrated. This makes for a heartwarming picture that is sure to delight families (and increase Playmobil sales) worldwide. Throughout the story, Marla and Charlie are joined by a colourful and enigmatic cast of figurines (including cameos from big name celebrities such as Daniel Radcliffe, Adam Lambert and Meghan Trainor), who aid the protagonists in their various quests. The songs are pleasant, yet unfortunately slightly forgettable amongst the action and seem too infrequent to really make their mark on the movie.

Overall, Playmobil, which marks the directorial debut of Lino DiSalvo, provides audiences with the perfect mix of comedy and emotion – creating a story that does leave a message. Younger viewers will be drawn in by the colourful universe, the snappy dialogue and the “suspense” (will good triumph over evil?), whilst parents will remain suitably entertained by the moments of rather dry humour provided.

In short, the feature is an easy and comedic watch, of which the quality is raised significantly by the tender storyline of Marla and Charlie. Though unlikely to become a cinematic classic, Playmobil: The Movie does much more than we’d expect to make its mark in the entertainment industry.

Abbie Grundy

Playmobil: The Movie is released nationwide on 9^th August 2019.

Watch the trailer for Playmobil: The Movie here: