Year: 2018
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Meryl Streep, Dick Van Dyke, and Angela Lansbury
Tagline: When you lose your way, just remember the magic always returns
Starring: Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Meryl Streep, Dick Van Dyke, and Angela Lansbury
Tagline: When you lose your way, just remember the magic always returns
Synopsis: Mary Poppins returns to 17 Cherry Tree Lane, this time to help the grown up Jane and Michael.
Review
As I'm sure was the case for many, I grew up watching Mary Poppins on VHS. When I heard they were making a sequel 50+ years later, I was dubious. So, how is Mary Poppins Returns? My takeaway is it is a fun-filled adventure worth seeing, even if it isn't as practically perfect as the original.
You simply can't watch Mary Poppins Returns without comparing it to its predecessor in two ways: the titular character and the story itself.
Emily Blunt is fantastic as the magical nanny. She fills the role perfectly. She doesn't pretend to be the Julie Andrews version. She is her own version. And both versions are wonderful.
As for the story, it is fun and magical. But it rides a bit too carefully on the coattails of the original. We hit all the same plot points: the introduction to magic, a scene with live action and animation intermixed, the visit to an eccentric relative, a mishap at the bank, a rousing song-and-dance number, and an uplifting ending. While most of those things work within the story and are indeed fun, it means the film doesn't bring much that is new.
What is new, however, is the addition of a villain and the ticking clock cliche. Again, neither is bad and both serve the story as it is. But the original film was able to pack an emotional punch and wrap up satisfactorily without either of those things.
I've already raved about Emily Blunt. The rest of the cast also do a good job. Lin-Manuel Miranda's Jack (a lamplighter) is charming through and through. Ben Whishaw brings the grown Michael Banks to life and takes a character that could have been too sentimental and keeps him grounded. Emily Mortimer is a believable grown up Jane. Julie Walters is excellent as Ellen the housekeeper (the same housekeeper character as in the original). Colin Firth and Meryl Streep both look like they are having a marvelous time in their respective roles. The kids do a good job, especially since I read that this was the youngest's first acting role.
Two other returning characters are Admiral Boom and his first mate, Mr. Binnacle. The admiral's little side story made me happy.
But what made me the happiest in the entire film was when Dick Van Dyke showed up for the climax. I could not suppress the grin on my face seeing him as Mr. Dawes Jr. (originally he was Mr. Dawes Sr.). Equally smile-worthy was seeing Angela Lansbury as the Balloon Lady in the finale. Seeing two Disney legends (and stars from my childhood) was fantastic.
As you would expect from the House of Mouse, the production values are top notch throughout. The costumes, the sets, the choreography, and all else are spot on. And the animated sequences are beautiful. I'm so glad the director insisted on using traditional, hand drawn animation, in keeping with the original. The colors are vibrant and the interaction with the live action characters is seamless.
And that leaves only the music. Most of the songs are indeed catchy (and may well get stuck in your head). But for me, most of the songs weren't as good or as truly memorable as those from the original. Those songs have become classics. These songs are nice. My personal favorites are "A Conversation," "Can You Imagine That?," and "The Place Where Lost Things Go." Still, it was when motifs from the original songs were interwoven into the score that I got most excited.
All told, Mary Poppins Returns is a worthy sequel. The film is full of wonderful small moments, some endearing songs, and plenty of nostalgia. Emily Blunt is terrific. I recommend taking yourself and your family to "trip a little light fantastic" with Mary Poppins, Jack, and all the others.
The film is rated PG for some mild peril.
*** Spoiler Section ***
As emotionally satisfying as the climax is, the deus ex machina doesn't really work when you think about it. Having Dawes Jr. explain how the tuppence from the first film are now rescuing them financially in this film is a lovely twist. But let's face it, even over 20 years with the wisest of investments, there's no way that tuppence (two pennies) are going to have grown into a substantial sum of money. That's not realistic during the best of economic times. And the film takes place during the early 1930s, i.e., anything but the best of economic times.
But why should logic and realism get in the way of a satisfying ending?
Seriously, though, it made me so happy when Admiral Boom and Big Ben were back in sync.
You simply can't watch Mary Poppins Returns without comparing it to its predecessor in two ways: the titular character and the story itself.
Emily Blunt is fantastic as the magical nanny. She fills the role perfectly. She doesn't pretend to be the Julie Andrews version. She is her own version. And both versions are wonderful.
As for the story, it is fun and magical. But it rides a bit too carefully on the coattails of the original. We hit all the same plot points: the introduction to magic, a scene with live action and animation intermixed, the visit to an eccentric relative, a mishap at the bank, a rousing song-and-dance number, and an uplifting ending. While most of those things work within the story and are indeed fun, it means the film doesn't bring much that is new.
What is new, however, is the addition of a villain and the ticking clock cliche. Again, neither is bad and both serve the story as it is. But the original film was able to pack an emotional punch and wrap up satisfactorily without either of those things.
I've already raved about Emily Blunt. The rest of the cast also do a good job. Lin-Manuel Miranda's Jack (a lamplighter) is charming through and through. Ben Whishaw brings the grown Michael Banks to life and takes a character that could have been too sentimental and keeps him grounded. Emily Mortimer is a believable grown up Jane. Julie Walters is excellent as Ellen the housekeeper (the same housekeeper character as in the original). Colin Firth and Meryl Streep both look like they are having a marvelous time in their respective roles. The kids do a good job, especially since I read that this was the youngest's first acting role.
Two other returning characters are Admiral Boom and his first mate, Mr. Binnacle. The admiral's little side story made me happy.
But what made me the happiest in the entire film was when Dick Van Dyke showed up for the climax. I could not suppress the grin on my face seeing him as Mr. Dawes Jr. (originally he was Mr. Dawes Sr.). Equally smile-worthy was seeing Angela Lansbury as the Balloon Lady in the finale. Seeing two Disney legends (and stars from my childhood) was fantastic.
As you would expect from the House of Mouse, the production values are top notch throughout. The costumes, the sets, the choreography, and all else are spot on. And the animated sequences are beautiful. I'm so glad the director insisted on using traditional, hand drawn animation, in keeping with the original. The colors are vibrant and the interaction with the live action characters is seamless.
And that leaves only the music. Most of the songs are indeed catchy (and may well get stuck in your head). But for me, most of the songs weren't as good or as truly memorable as those from the original. Those songs have become classics. These songs are nice. My personal favorites are "A Conversation," "Can You Imagine That?," and "The Place Where Lost Things Go." Still, it was when motifs from the original songs were interwoven into the score that I got most excited.
All told, Mary Poppins Returns is a worthy sequel. The film is full of wonderful small moments, some endearing songs, and plenty of nostalgia. Emily Blunt is terrific. I recommend taking yourself and your family to "trip a little light fantastic" with Mary Poppins, Jack, and all the others.
The film is rated PG for some mild peril.
*** Spoiler Section ***
As emotionally satisfying as the climax is, the deus ex machina doesn't really work when you think about it. Having Dawes Jr. explain how the tuppence from the first film are now rescuing them financially in this film is a lovely twist. But let's face it, even over 20 years with the wisest of investments, there's no way that tuppence (two pennies) are going to have grown into a substantial sum of money. That's not realistic during the best of economic times. And the film takes place during the early 1930s, i.e., anything but the best of economic times.
But why should logic and realism get in the way of a satisfying ending?
Seriously, though, it made me so happy when Admiral Boom and Big Ben were back in sync.
Quotable Quotes
- "I was flying a kite and it got caught on a nanny!" -- Georgie
- "Close your mouth, please, Michael. We are still not a codfish." -- Mary Poppins
- "She did come all this way on a kite." -- Michael to Jane
- "Cleaning is not a spectator sport." -- Mary Poppins
- "That's an interesting accent you've got. Where're you from?" "It's a long story --" "No one knows." -- Jack, Cousin Topsy, and Mary Poppins
ISFS
No comments:
Post a Comment