The Railway Children Return (2022) - Did This Really Have To Exist??

Since this sequel was announced, it has been the subject of extensive scrutiny and scepticism from many fans of the beloved 70s original, myself being among that crowd. The Railway Children is a treasured classic in the world of British cinema. There's a reason why nobody has tried to remake this beloved story on the big screen again. And that's simply because nobody could do it better. So the idea of continuing this story with a new cast of young characters was concerning. Would this film actually be able to justify its existence?...

It was astounding to me that I found myself thoroughly impressed by how faithful this film was. The team both in front and behind the camera clearly cared about the original's classic status, and didn't want to create something that would leave a nasty stain on it's legacy. Thankfully, director Morgan Matthews and the team at Studio Canal did a fine job. I think it's safe to say that most people will continue to favour the original, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this film still captures the heart and child like wonder of Lionel Lionel Jefferies' original masterpiece. The basic set up is the same, but beyond the idea of three young children being sent to the countryside, the rest of the story does it's own thing, and doesn't rely on pandering nostalgia trips in order to engage with it's audience. It's focused on provided a fun and adventurous tale that will not only please the fans of the original, but also engage with the modern day younger audiences, who might not have seen the original film yet. Rather than a collection of smaller stories as per the original, this film has one primary narrative, which fills up the 95 minute runtime beautifully. It never slows or dawdles in it's pacing.

The introduction of these new young faces can be daunting, especially in this case where there are 5 main child characters that need establishing and developing. Films such as 2018's Mary Poppins Returns, which in itself had a long gap between original and sequel, demonstrated plainly that developing multiple new characters doesn't always work out, and can often result in bland cardboard cutouts. Thankfully, each child character gets fleshed out the right amount for each of them. The main three, Lily, Thomas and Abe (Beau Gadsdon, Austin Haynes and KJ Aikens respectively) each get some time to shine, fleshing out their main driving forces, and building some really strong chemistry. Lily's siblings, Pattie and Ted, don't get as much attention, but what drives them is demonstrated through Lily, and their respective actors, (Eden Hamilton/Zac Cudby) are still effortlessly charming, and work really well off the rest of the cast. The children here are just as realistically portrayed as the original cast. They feel like real kids, and not blank slates. Gadsdon in particular does a superb job as this film's leading lady. Taking on such a responsibility is highly admirable, especially considering she is at an age even younger than Jenny Agutter was when she starred in the original film, Agutter being 17/18 at the time of filming the original, while Gadsdon was only 13, a very strong achievement for a performer at such a young age! I can see Gadsdon being the stand out performer to many, and it's clear that she has a very strong career ahead of her.

The supporting cast of established British actors is sublime, although I will admit that I couldn't tell that John Bradley's character, Richard, was meant to be a descendant of Bernard Cribbins' character, Perks from the original film. I'm grateful they didn't spell it out for us, and there is meant to be something to indicate this familial link, but based on a first viewing, this reference must be a blink and you'll miss it moment. Sheridan Smith does a fine job, and really feels like her character is a descendant of the original Waterbury family. Of course, the stand out is definitely Jenny Agutter, who just slips back into her defining role as Bobby, while still being able to establish how Bobby has matured and changed, as the world around her has changed. I also really appreciate that she doesn't overshadow the new child actors, who really carry the film on their shoulders. Even a surprise cameo from Hugh Quarshie doesn't overshadow the masterclass acting from the likes of Gadsdon and Aikens. In general, the film doesn't let references to the original overshadow what they want to be the focus. There is nods and references in the film, but I was very impressed impressed at the restraint they had. It would've been very easy to have a scene of them watching trains exit the tunnel as in the original due to how iconic that moment is to many fans, but they didn't. And ultimately, it wouldn't have been needed in the context of this new story, beyond the easy temptation to pander to the nostalgic.

The original Railway Children film has it's social commentary, but it is more of an overarching plot point that links each of the mini stories together. Here, the social commentary is front and centre, and doing that is one of the smartest things this new film does. It uses this film's platform to demonstrate key points of social commentary to it's young audience, making sure that they know how bad things were, and why it needs to never be allowed to return to that point. It doesn't feel like it's distracting either, it instead falls neatly into the flowing narrative, and plays a vital role in it's narrative development. It also gives this sequel a point to exist beyond nostalgia-baiting.

The technical aspects of this film are almost as sublime as the original. The detail is second to none, and the fact that filming was once again done primarily at the original locations around Oakworth station on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway demonstrates why those locations are so iconic and identifiable. It is just as quintissentially British as the 70's original. The costumes are amazingly authentic looking, and the use of period accurate locomotives and rolling stock really feels like you're going back in time. The only issue I have with this film comes from it's continuity, which in itself is a nitpick. There are two scenes in the film where the trains are a key focus. Keen railway enthusiasts will see the train in each respective scene will change consistently. The shapes and sizes of these machines give that away. While not a huge distraction, and not likely to ruin the viewing experience for anyone, it is still a point worth addressing, as you would expect continuity to be a key point of focus during post production.

Edward Farmer and Martin Phipps take on the daunting task of bringing this new film to life with their music score. And after so much copy and paste wallpaper music heard in recent Hollywood films, hearing a music score that clearly has love and care put into it is a real joy. The music matches the film's mood and scenery brilliantly, and sells us on the film's big moments. There are key pieces which stand out as belonging to the film, and the emotions pack an extra punch with this music behind it. It does feel like the music is over utilised in the film compared to the original where it was used sparingly, but when the music is this good, it's not a huge issue in my eyes.

I went into this film expecting to be left underwhelmed at what would likely be a pointless endeavour. And while it won't be a groundbreaking game changer anytime soon, The Railway Children Return is still a superbly put together film, and is a really faithful tribute to both E. Nesbitt's original novel, and Lionel Jefferies' 1970 classic. It has it's own unique voice, while still staying true to the atmosphere and mood of a very important film to many British families. In these dark times where viruses continue to rear their ugly heads, and politics continues to a never-ending disaster, films like this are the perfect cure to bring back a smile and sense of child-like wonder to any audience goer, regardless of age, just as the original film did all those years ago. I highly recommend that anyone who can, goes and gives this film it's undivided attention. Just go and let the film take you on a fun and entertaining adventure. Let the legacy of The Railway Children continue to entertain and inspired many for generations to come. And if this film keeps future generations interested in the classic original, then this sequel will have done it's purpose and more!

SCORES

Story - 5/5

Characters - 5/5

Production - 5/5

Acting - 5/5

Music - 5/5

TOTAL - 10/10