Thomas & Friends: Journey Beyond Sodor

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. However, 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 to work on Thomas’ branch line, but he soon grows fed up with it. James suggests to Sir Topham Hatt that he go to the mainland himself and search for Thomas, but Sir Topham Hatt refuses to let him as he can’t afford to lose another engine. Percy later suggests to James that he find Thomas. Liking the idea, James heads off to the mainland. 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 also returns from the steamworks and asks what he missed in his absence.

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.