This Tinker Bell series has been doing a fine line in TV and DVD sales for Disney for a few years now but Secret of the Wings is the first cinema outing, and with it a 3D makeover to get the little girls off the couch. Those that tear themselves away from the TV should lap this one up.
Tinker Bell (In Treatment's Mae Whitman, who has voiced the fairy four times now) is a fairy of Pixie Hollow, the summer side of a land divided in two. Forbidden to enter the Winter Woods for fear of her wings freezing, a curious Tink does just that only to find that her wings glow and sparkle in the frozen land. Searching for the wise fairy who wrote the book on wings, Tink bumps into Periwinkle (Hale), whose wings also sparkle. Convinced they are sisters, Periwinkle shows Tink around the Winter Woods and Tink introduces Periwinkle to the delights of Pixie Hollow. However, both run the risk of being spotted by Lord Milori (Dalton).
It's been a sorry lot for Christmas movies this year when all we've got is Nativity 2. Sure, Rise of the Guardians had snow courtesy of Jack Frost but it's set at Easter; it's snow ahoy in The Secret of the Wings but Christmas isn't mentioned once. However, I'd take this Christmasless Tink story over sitting through a Nativity sequel any day. Making no concessions to the adults expected to be dragged along, the story is kept very simple throughout with its message - both sides can make adjustments to suit everyone - to the fore.
The 3D adds to the flight scenes with plenty of gliding over mountains and swooping between trees to a poppy soundtrack, with enough fairy contraptions and inventions to keep things fun. What it's missing is a villain, someone the girls can hope will get their comeuppance; unfortunately the real danger only comes from the encroaching frost that will destroy Pixie Hollow and that doesn't turn up until later on. Until then, the kids will make do with the sisterly adventures.
Essential viewing for the young 'uns, everyone else not so much
