There is some redemption in the character of Eustace (Will Poulter) in his transformation from brat to dragon to come of age youth. Edmund, Lucy (Georgie Henley) and Eustace (Will Poulter) seem either miscast or asked to portray children who simply cannot be convincing in their roles as even unlikely heroes. They carry this unfortunate naive persona into the fantasy world of Narnia. They need an infusion of ‘mettle’ to make their roles plausible in an implausible world. What keeps the best fantasies real and relevant are their characters. Despite costume, special effects and all the support to allow transformation into convincing characters and leaders, it never happens for these children. This has been a chronic downfall of the screen adaptations of the Narnia stories. It is exactly what Lewis hated about boarding school – adults who just don’t get what young people are really about.

Reviewed by: Moira Romano