Watching this movie brought back some memories, though I kept questioning its purpose. The initial Lionel Jeffries film from 1970 possessed a certain appeal rooted in a feeling of “Britishness,” and it was straightforward, thoughtful, and captivating. This more recent version has a darker storyline that’s certainly worthwhile, but doesn't quite mesh with the plot's generally slow pace. A group of children are sent away from Manchester to escape bombing raids and find themselves being taken in—through a process that seemed rather arbitrary and potentially dangerous for them—by "Bobbie" (Jenny Agutter), along with her daughter "Annie" (Sheridan Smith) and her young son "Thomas" (Austin Haynes). For reasons unexplained, there are also some American soldiers stationed in this isolated rural village; and the kids discover an injured soldier hiding out in their secret spot – a forgotten railway carriage. Uncertain if he’s a spy, and wary of one another, the story gradually explores the developing connection between them while addressing issues like prejudice within the U.S. military and challenges faced by families with loved ones at war. It feels somewhat fragmented. The storytelling attempts to remain true to the original's central idea, but ultimately it comes across as too fragile and vaguely defined. The young actors—particularly Haynes, KJ Aikens playing the young soldier ("Abe"), and Beau Gadsdon as the energetic "Lily"—provide some entertainment, and there’s a fun flour fight scene; however, much of the rest feels adrift in 2022. Sir Tom Courtenay shows up later on as a kind of wise elder, but again it's mainly about seeing him onscreen rather than because he adds anything particularly meaningful to the story. It isn’t a terrible film, and maybe it could spark awareness among any young viewers who happen to see it that all forms of prejudice are wrong; otherwise, this is an agreeable movie for Christmas television viewing that only superficially resembles the original.

Source on TMDB