This film is as good as the original, maybe even more fun and enjoyable. Director Rob Marshall, directs the film in splendid fashion. Marshall makes the film just so enjoyable and visually stunning and so wonderful that this is one of Disney's best films. Not only is this film visually breathtaking, it's emotional and it has heart.
Not only does Emily Blunt shine as the magical Mary Poppins, she soars. She plays the character so enthusiastically. She makes the film even more enjoyable because of how likable her spin on the character is. Costars: Lin Manuel Miranda, Ben Whisaw and Emily Mortimer shine right along side Blunt and the films beauty. While on the otherhand, you have a trio of young actors who play the children of Michael Banks. The little actors are so charming and they make this film worth it.
Not only is the films setting beautiful, but as viewers may know from the original film, that it has animation and colorful characters that interact with Mary. This film brings back that element of joyous fun and that is something to behold. This film has some of the best visuals in a Disney film that I have seen in a really long time.
You can't have a musical film without stunning choreography, fun dance numbers and catchy songs. This film continues that and goes above the original. Not only are the songs and dance numbers entertaining, but the films score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman is as charming and joyful upbeat as the film.
Not only does this film have a lot of fun to behold, it also has a bit of commentary into growing up and having fun in life while you still can. It also has a compelling story that results in a happy ending.
It's practically perfect in every way. Over 50 years have past since audiences saw the magical nanny on screen. Since then, audiences have come to fall in love with good ole Mary Poppins once more.
Viewers old and young will find this film as delightfully charming and fun as the 1964 original film. One of the longest gaps for a long-awaited sequel spanning well over 50 years has made its triumphant and beautiful debut on the big screen. Audiences will no doubt fall in love with the characters all over again even with a little bit of nostalgia.
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| Photo courtesy of Disney |
Rate: A+
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Emily Blunt, Lin Manuel-Miranda, Ben Whisaw, Emily Mortimer, Colin Firth
MPAA Rating: PG (for some mild thematic elements and brief action)
Runtime: 2 Hours & 10 Minutes
Synopsis: Directed and produced by Rob Marshall, "Mary Poppins Returns" also stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer and Julie Walters with Colin Firth and Meryl Streep. The film, which introduces three new Banks children, played by Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and newcomer Joel Dawson, also features Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury. The film is set in 1930s depression-era London (the time period of the original novels) and is drawn from the wealth of material in PL Travers' additional seven books. In the story, Michael (Whishaw) and Jane (Mortimer) are now grown up, with Michael, his three children and their housekeeper, Ellen (Walters), living on Cherry Tree Lane. After Michael suffers a personal loss, the enigmatic nanny Mary Poppins (Blunt) re-enters the lives of the Banks family, and, along with the optimistic street lamplighter Jack (Miranda), uses her unique magical skills to help the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives. Mary Poppins also introduces the children to a new assortment of colorful and whimsical characters, including her eccentric cousin, Topsy (Streep).
