Tinkerbell and the Legend of the NeverBeast

The seventh and final instalment in the DisneyToon Studios fairy franchise proves surprisingly lively, even if the title is a bit misleading: it’s actually Tink’s big-hearted pal Fawn (voiced by a spirited Ginnifer Goodwin) who takes centre stage.

Fawn adopts a cute baby hawk without realising that the bird may grow up to snack on the fairy population of Pixie Hollow. She gets a telling-off from Queen Clarion, yet soon she’s tending to a mysterious furry grey monster with a thorn in its paw. Clearly taken with the big guy, she refuses to believe he’s the destructive force the legend of the NeverBeast says he is.

The film plumbs no great depths. But it snappily combines frisky aerial action, a sprinkling of fairy dust and much cuddly bonding with the massive furball of the title (a sweetie at heart despite appearances). It’s expertly crafted for very young kids, and the snappy length (67 minutes!) makes it a useful option for parents seeking a U-certificate family diversion over the holidays.