Thomas & Friends: Journey Beyond Sodor

Journey Beyond Sodor is a CGI-animated musical adventure film based on the television show Thomas & Friends, based on The Railway Series by The Rev. W. Awdry. It was released on 22 August 2017 in the US and on 16 October 2017 in the UK.^[2]

The film stars the voices of Joseph May in the US and John Hasler in the UK voice of Thomas the Tank Engine. It also stars the voices of Rob Rackstraw, Christopher Ragland, Nigel Pilkington, Keith Wickham, Kerry Shale and Teresa Gallagher with Mark Moraghan narrating his last special.

Hugh Bonneville, Lucy Montgomery, Darren Boyd, Jim Howick, Sophie Colquhoun, Colin McFarlane and Nicola Stapleton join the cast. This special deals with many traits that children have such as Autism, through the Experimental Engines.^[3]

Plot

In 2017, With goods for Bridlington's yard, Henry (UK: Keith Wickham / US: Kerry Shale) suffers a crash from a faulty signal and has to be taken for repair. Meanwhile, Thomas (UK: John Hasler / US: Joseph May) is fed up with constant boasting from James (Rob Rackstraw) and upset that Sir Topham Hatt (Keith Wickham) chooses him to take Henry's train. Thomas decides to arrive at Vicarstown before James so he can take the train to Bridlington himself (Song: "Somebody Has to be the Favo(u)rite"). However, the Troublesome Trucks distract him and he arrives at a canal where crane Beresford refuses to let Thomas pass unless he tells him more about himself, but he is tricked and passed through (Song: "Who's Thomas?"). Thomas arrives at a rundown shunting yard where he meets Lexi and Theo, failed experimental engines who are no longer in service. They provide him with more coal and water but are unable to help him find his way to Bridlington.

Thomas sets off once again and later finds himself at a massive Steelworks factory run by Hurricane and Frankie who friendly invite him to stay (Song: "The Hottest Place in Town"). Thomas initially declines as he has to deliver the goods train, but the Steelworks engines persuade him to stay the night as it is already very late. The next morning, Thomas learns that Hurricane delivered his train to Bridlington in the night and Frankie convinces him to help out at the Steelworks as to return the favour. However, they refuse to let Thomas leave and Frankie is enraged when Thomas tries to escape (Song: "I Want to Go Home"). Thomas attempts another escape during the night and is this time successful.

He meets Merlin, a third experimental engine who falsely believes he has invisibility powers, who helps him evade Hurricane and Frankie. Thomas is saddened that he was not able to do anything right and the experimental engines remark that he is just like them (Song: "We Can't Do Anything"). Meanwhile, on Sodor, James is begrudgingly running Thomas' branch line in his absence. Percy suggests that James go to the mainland himself to find Thomas. At Bridlington Goods Yard, James didn't get any information about Thomas from the Mainland Diesels, but learns from the Troublesome Trucks that they were ultimately delivered by Hurricane who, coincidentally, is also there.

On his way back to Sodor, Thomas passes by Beresford who is still upset about being tricked earlier. Thomas sees that Hurricane and Frankie are taking James to the Steelworks. Thomas enlists the help of the experimental engines to rescue James. Theo and Lexi distract the Steelworks engines while Thomas and Merlin try to help James escape. The plan quickly goes downhill and Thomas is put in harm's way when he almost gets melted by molten slag. Hurricane pushes him out of the way, but his wheels melt as a result. Frankie is upset that Hurricane will not be able to help her make deliveries and explains that they are overworked at the Steelworks, which is the reason they tried to enslave Thomas and James. Thomas suggests that the experimental engines help them out. Although they are unsure if they are capable, they are still happy to try.

On their way back to Sodor, Thomas and James apologize to each other. Thomas explains that being friends is more important than being the favorite (Song: "The Most Important Thing is Being Friends"), Henry returns and asks what he missed in his absence.

Cast

References

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Journey Beyond Sodor

External links

• Thomas & Friends: Journey Beyond Sodor on IMDb
• Thomas & Friends: Journey Beyond Sodor at Rotten Tomatoes