Darby O'Gill and the Little People - 3/5

This is an adorable tour through Disney-fied Irish lore that touches on more than just leprechauns, though they are overwhelmingly the focus. The effects mostly hold up quite well, and a few of the scenes are actually impressively filmed. Still, the story’s quaintly rambling and there are several dubious plot contrivances. But on the whole it’s a worthwhile family film.

Closest comparison: It’s like The Secret of Kells by way of Behind the Waterfall.

Setting: Fantasy
Plot: Adventure
Tone: Family

Bedknobs and Broomsticks - 2/5

This movie is a mild failure on many levels. Its setup is a ripoff of Mary Poppins and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, the child characters are fairly unlikeable, and the cartoon other world has no internal consistency of theme. It has a great nugget of an idea in the Witches Correspondence School subplot, but it gets lost in the shuffle of “and now this is happening” plot beats. The finale is a good idea on paper but leaves excitement on the table in favor of what were at the time impressive visuals.

Closest comparison: It’s like Mary Poppins by way of The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming, without the self-awareness.

Setting: Civilian War
Plot: Hidden World
Tone: Family