Secret of the Wings

Not all Disney spin-offs shine, but the candy-colored CGI-animated Tinker Bell franchise starring the beloved fairy from Peter Pan has been a consistent winner, popular with viewers young and old. In this fourth trip to Pixie Hollow, Tinker Bell (voiced by Mae Whitman) longs to cross the border into the Winter Woods, home of the winter fairies. Although she is warned not to, headstrong Tink nevertheless makes the trek—only to wind up damaging her wings from the bitter cold. After recuperating, Tink makes a second trip and with the help of a kindly “keeper”—a librarian-type named Dewey (wink, wink)—meets her sister (born from the same laugh), Periwinkle (Lucy Hale). Naturally, the sisters are torn apart by the fact that due to climate issues they must remain, well, torn apart. But tinkers are resourceful, and Tink and her pals devise a wonderful solution…until everything goes terribly, catastrophically wrong—placing Pixie Hollow in grave danger. Returning members of the stellar voice cast include Anjelica Huston, Lucy Liu, and Raven-Symone, while Timothy Dalton makes a first appearance here as the Winter Woods leader Lord Milori. Directed by Peggy Holmes and featuring the catchy tune “The Great Divide” by the McClain Sisters, this solid entry in the series is recommended. (R. Pitman)