Thomas & Friends: Journey Beyond Sodor

Thomas & Friends: Journey Beyond Sodor
Film poster
Directed by	David Stoten
Written by	Andrew Brenner
Produced by	Ian McCue Tracy Baldgon
Starring	John Hasler (UK) Joseph May (US) Rob Rackstraw Hugh Bonneville Jim Howick Sophie Colquhoun Lucy Montgomery Darren Boyd Colin McFarlane
Narrated by	Mark Moraghan
Music by	Chris Renshaw Oliver Davis
Production companies	Jam Filled Toronto Mattel Creations
Distributed by	Mattel Creations Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (US)
Release dates	22 August 2017 (2017-08-22) (US) 16 October 2017 (2017-10-16) (UK)
Running time	75 minutes
Countries	United Kingdom Canada
Language	English

Thomas & Friends: Journey Beyond Sodor is a 2017 animated musical adventure film and feature-length special based on the British television series Thomas & Friends, based on The Railway Series by Wilbert Awdry. This is the first Thomas film to be produced by Mattel Creations and animated by Jam Filled Toronto. It was released on 22 August 2017 in the US and on 16 October 2017 in the UK.

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 for the final time. Hugh Bonneville, Lucy Montgomery, Darren Boyd, Jim Howick, Sophie Colquhoun, Colin McFarlane and Nicola Stapleton join the cast. The film deals with many traits that children have such as autism, through the Experimental Engines.

Plot

On his way to deliver a goods train to Bridlington on the Mainland, Henry the Green Engine suffers an accident, due to a faulty signal, and has to stay at the Steamworks until he is fully repaired. Thomas the Tank Engine is upset that Sir Topham Hatt has chosen James the Red Engine, who has been teasing him, thinking he’s Sir Topham Hatt’s favorite engine, to take the train in Henry's place. To prove to James he’s Sir Topham Hatt’s favorite, Thomas collects the goods train before James does so he can take it to Bridlington himself. However, some Troublesome Trucks distract his driver, causing them to go the wrong way. Along his journey, Thomas meets Beresford, a crane, and two experimental engines, Lexi and Theo, who help him get more coal and water. They also tell him about another engine named Merlin, who believes he has the power to become invisible.

Thomas eventually finds himself at a massive Steelworks factory run by two engines, Hurricane and Frankie, who invite him to stay. The next day, Thomas learns that Hurricane delivered his train to Bridlington overnight and Frankie convinces him to help out at the Steelworks to return the favor. They refuse to let Thomas leave and continue to force him to work for them. Thomas escapes during the night and meets Merlin, who does not appear then though. Meanwhile, back on Sodor, James is assigned Thomas’ work but soon grows fed up and decides to go looking for him. He comes across Hurricane, who takes him to the Steelworks.

On his way home the next day, Thomas encounters Beresford again. When he hears Frankie and Hurricane coming, Beresford hides him using his hook, only to see them taking James to the steelworks. Thomas enlists the help of the experimental engines to rescue James. Theo and Lexi act as a diversion while Thomas and Merlin try to help James escape. The plan quickly goes downhill; a chase ensues in the Steelworks in which James is saved but Thomas is almost melted by slag. Hurricane pushes Thomas out of the way, but melts his own wheels. Frankie breaks down crying and explains that she and Hurricane only enslaved Thomas and James because of the overload of work. The experimental engines decide to henceforth join them at the Steelworks.

Afterwards, Thomas and James apologize to each other. Thomas tells him that being friends is more important than being the favorite, and they happily return home. Henry returns and asks what he missed in his absence.

Voice cast

Main article: List of Thomas & Friends voice actors

Actor/Actress	Region	Role(s)
Mark Moraghan	UK/US	The Narrator
John Hasler	UK	Thomas
Joseph May	US
Rob Rackstraw	UK/US	James and the Troublesome Trucks
	UK	Toby
Nigel Pilkington		Percy and Trevor
Christopher Ragland	US
	UK/US	Jem Cole and the Troublesome Trucks
Keith Wickham		Sir Topham Hatt
	UK	Edward, Henry and Gordon
Kerry Shale	UK/US	Kevin and the Troublesome Trucks
	US	Henry and Gordon
William Hope		Edward and Toby
	UK/US	2 Troublesome Trucks and Farmer McColl
Teresa Gallagher		Annie and Clarabel
	UK	Emily
Jules de Jongh	US
Steven Kynman	UK/US	Some workmen
Rasmus Hardiker		Philip
John Schwab		Ulli and a Bridlington Diesel
David Bedella		Victor
Nicola Stapleton		Rosie
Hugh Bonneville		Merlin
Lucy Montgomery		Lexi and the Troublesome Trucks
Darren Boyd		Theo
Jim Howick		Hurricane
Sophie Colquhoun		Frankie
Colin McFarlane		Beresford

Reception

Common Sense Media gave it 3/5 stars, calling it a "Suspenseful adventure," that had "positive messages, and the addition of some spirited new characters who add fun to the tale." They however noted it being darker than other Thomas films.

External links

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