Based on the book by Dick King-Smith, this WWII family romp sees housekeeper’s son Angus (Alex Etel: very cute) discovering an egg that hatches into a CG creature declared a “water horse” by handyman Lewis (Ben Chaplin: suitably strapping, wavering accent).
There’s likeable humour as Angus struggles to disguise his find, suspense when the grown ‘monster’ takes to the waves, and a well-handled love triangle between Chaplin, Emily Watson and David Morrissey. It’s slow-paced and rather sentimental (Brian Cox’s narration is a tad sickly), but as family-friendly fairy tales go, it’s charming enough to get by.