Movie Review by Vivienne Messenger
Starring: Yasmin Paige, Rory Copus, Harry Enfield, Vinnie Jones, Stephen Fry, Jim Broadbent
Director: Edouard Nammour
TOOTH is a fantasy drama that takes a very apt topic foremost in many youngsters minds when their milk teeth become wobbly. The losing of their baby teeth and just as important that magical visit from the tooth fairy during the night, who takes the tooth from under their pillows leaving some money instead. However writer/director Edouard Nammour in his debut feature film explores this fairytale myth with the help of a rebellious, feisty, young fairy called Tooth who is fed up with her lot in life and existence in Fairytopia and is going to change things once and for all!
Wonderfully headstrong Tooth – played by a very talented 12 year-old Yasmin Paige – is supposed to be one of those magical fairies that in this story sucks up the teeth placed under pillows with a huge vacuum-like machine and deposits a few pennies in exchange. However Fairytopia where she lives with other more jaded fairies is in disarray and devoid of magic, so when she visits 6 year-old Tolly Wallit (Maisie Preston) and takes the tooth from under her pillow instead of a few pennies she leaves dollars letting the machine she’s using to do this turned on all night.
Imagine Tolly’s surprise the next morning when the bedroom she shares with her older brother Tom (Rory Copus) is submerged under a mountain of money, just what she’d been praying for as her family are hard up. Keeping the money a secret they hide most of it in refuse sacks and sneak it out to the garage unbeknownst to their parents – hardworking mum (Sally Phillips) and failed musician dad (Tim Dutton).
Meanwhile Tooth is in big trouble since Fairytopia is bankrupt and Christmas is almost upon them. She realises she’s gone too far and has to retrieve the money fast or Christmas will be cancelled and she must find Mrs Claus (Phyllida Law) and a magical orb to restore magic to Fairytopia. Her supervisor – a huge white rabbit (Jim Broadbent) – is in hot pursuit trying to rectify the situation as well but things get immeasurably worse when she discovers the money has vanished and an evil fairy hunter Plug (Harry Enfield) and his posse including right-hand man Bulldozer (Patrick Monckton) are on to her. Tooth teams up with Tolly and Tom as they hunt for the money and Mrs Claus but can they outwit the dastardly Plug?
TOOTH is certainly original and Edouard Nammour manages to keep the movie well paced. There’s plenty of action from the wicked fairy hunters to keep its audience entertained from a memorable quad bike chase with Plug and his gang bearing down on Tooth and co to The Extractor (Vinnie Jones) bought in by Plug to interrogate his captives, not forgetting that huge fluffy white rabbit thrown into the mix as well. All three of the main child characters carry off their roles with incredible maturity especially Yasmin Paige who really excels and is a joy to watch. Sadly Vinnie Jones puts in a far too brief performance while Harry Enfield revels in delight at being evil.
