My Little Pony: The Movie

This instalment has all the sly wit and fine character development -- once again effervescent Pinkie Pie steals the show -- that die-hard devotees treasure so much.

... its sugary surface the film offers itself as a guide for little girls on how to navigate the world that lies before them, stressing the need for female solidarity above all.

Daniel Ingram's big, Broadway musical numbers are epically-produced toe-tappers. The background designs are Ghibli-inspired excellent. And Emily Blunt couldn't invest Tempest with more tragedy and effort if she was doing an Ibsen play.

At the chewy, candy core of this assaulting, shrill, Skittles-hued headache is a well-meaning treatise on solidarity and female friendship.

... there's just about enough darkness and irreverence amid the candy-coloured moralising to sustain parents to the end.

... just as cutesy and sentimental as you expect it is going to be.

Given that the story centers on toy pony princesses with magical abilities, My Little Pony: The Movie contains multitudes to unpack.

A pretty shallow experience, which is functionally fine for distracting a small child for over an hour but somewhat disappointing for adults and fans hoping to get something out of the experience too.

There's nothing here meant to be taken seriously and there's simply nothing here that can be taken seriously.

A dream of dark and troubling things.