Please note, I love the whole Disney Fairies series. I've grown rather fond of the characters and the universe, and as such I feel strongly enough about it to comment on how it's portrayed.
Liked: -Soaring soundtrack and opening sequence. -The visuals and animation look better than ever. -The story explores a fun, "new" character. (Pixie Hollow is a rich world, with lots of characters to dive into. I think it's awesome.) -Tender emotional moments
Disliked: -Heavy-handed slapstick humor throughout: the previous installments incorporated pratfalls and gags to some degree, but it was better executed. The fairies are charming because they're plausible as people; the over-the-top, cartoony antics and gags in this feature detracted from that plausibility, and portraying our (my) favorite fairies as buffoons seems mean-spirited on the writers' part and unflattering to the characters. -Unusually weak supporting characters: there's very little of the lively banter and interaction among the supporting characters that characterized the other installments. The normally warm and helpful circle of friends was wooden and felt like an afterthought, and was relegated to serve as cheap comic relief, which seems unfair and not in keeping with the strength of their personalities. -Some poorly-chosen lines of dialogue. Examples follow. "Hawks eat fairies!" (Duh. We've known that since movie one, but they didn't hit us over the head with it. Now I've got a mental image of a pretty little fairy being torn to bloody shreds.) "I love you, Gruff." (again, hits the viewer over the head, and ruins the effect of the scene doubling as a farewell to the audience.)
Don't misunderstand, this was still a fun movie, the soundtrack was amazing, Fawn was fun and lovable, the ending sequence wrapped things up well for the most part (and elicited tears) but in light of the other installments in the series and the fact that this may possibly be the last Fairies movie, it didn't hit the high note I would have hoped for. (One of the many reasons there should be more.)
Liked: -Soaring soundtrack and opening sequence. -The visuals and animation look better than ever. -The story explores a fun, "new" character. (Pixie Hollow is a rich world, with lots of characters to dive into. I think it's awesome.) -Tender emotional moments
Disliked: -Heavy-handed slapstick humor throughout: the previous installments incorporated pratfalls and gags to some degree, but it was better executed. The fairies are charming because they're plausible as people; the over-the-top, cartoony antics and gags in this feature detracted from that plausibility, and portraying our (my) favorite fairies as buffoons seems mean-spirited on the writers' part and unflattering to the characters. -Unusually weak supporting characters: there's very little of the lively banter and interaction among the supporting characters that characterized the other installments. The normally warm and helpful circle of friends was wooden and felt like an afterthought, and was relegated to serve as cheap comic relief, which seems unfair and not in keeping with the strength of their personalities. -Some poorly-chosen lines of dialogue. Examples follow. "Hawks eat fairies!" (Duh. We've known that since movie one, but they didn't hit us over the head with it. Now I've got a mental image of a pretty little fairy being torn to bloody shreds.) "I love you, Gruff." (again, hits the viewer over the head, and ruins the effect of the scene doubling as a farewell to the audience.)
Don't misunderstand, this was still a fun movie, the soundtrack was amazing, Fawn was fun and lovable, the ending sequence wrapped things up well for the most part (and elicited tears) but in light of the other installments in the series and the fact that this may possibly be the last Fairies movie, it didn't hit the high note I would have hoped for. (One of the many reasons there should be more.)