2004 was rather sparse on family films without big effects, so Five Children And It comes as a pleasant little oasis of calm.
Based on E. Nesbit's novel, it's slightly more self-aware than the early-'90s BBC series, which adapted the story of a group of wartime children who discover a mischievous, ancient sand fairy with Blyton-esque English eccentricity. Here, the sand fairy Psammead is rendered in CG and voiced by Eddie Izzard, who initially proves a strange fit.
He free-associates in his usual stand-up style and references modern-day objects, which sits awkwardly with the knickerbockered children. But once you adjust to the surreal combination, it evolves into a comfortably amusing yarn.