In 1930s London, Michael Banks (Whishaw) is raising his children in his childhood home. After the death of his wife, Michael has struggled to keep things together. His three children, Annabel (Davies), John (Saleh), and Georgie (Dawson), try to help around the house and take care of their father. They are helped by Michael's sister Jane (Mortimer), who lives nearby, and their housekeeper Ellen (Walters). The future looks grim when the Fidelity Fiduciary Bank comes to collect a loan on the house. They have until Friday to pay the loan or lose the house.
As Jane and Michael try to find a way to save the house, the kids go to the park where they meet Mary Poppins (Blunt) and lamp lighter Jack (Miranda). Mary Poppins returns to the house to be their nanny. She takes the children on adventures, while Michael tries to talk to bank president Mr. Wilkins (Firth) about the loan. Can they find a way to save the house and the family?
This film is the sequel to the 1964 Disney classic Mary Poppins. Both films are based on P.L. Travers' "Mary Poppins" books. There are 6 books in the series, beginning with "Mary Poppins" in 1934. The film features some elements from the books, but is an original story written by David Magee (who also wrote the screenplay), Rob Marshall (who also directed the film), and John DeLuca.
I love the 1964 film and I was nervously optimistic about this film. My 8-year old niece, who was obsessed with the original, gave it a rousing endorsement, so I decided to give it a chance. I thoroughly enjoyed this film.
The Good:
The story feels familiar and comfortable, while still new. It hits all the same beats as the original, but it in new ways... it isn't an exact repeat. Emily Blunt is great at Mary Poppins. She is different from Julie Andrews' Poppins, but still captures the character. She has good chemistry with the the Banks family and with Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda is good as Jack, the new Bert. He has a terrible Cockney accent, to mirror Dick Van Dyke's character from the original, and he dives into the role with the same gusto. Speaking of Van Dyke, his cameo made me smile.
The Bad:
Topsy... I like Uncle Albert from the original, and I understand why they wanted to bring in another of Mary Poppins' eccentric relatives, but it definitely took me out of the film. I like Meryl Streep, but not here.
Other Comments:
-The film was nominated for 4 Academy Awards in 2019: Best Original Score, Best Original Song (for "The Place Where Lost Things Go"), Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design. The film did not win any of these awards.
-The new music, by Marc Shaiman, is good. "The Place Where Lost Things Go" is a standout, alongside the lamp lighters' song "Trip A Little Light Fantastic."
-Angela Lansbury plays the Balloon Lady, a part that was offered to Andrews. She is great in the role.
-Karen Dotrice, who played Jane in the original film, has a small cameo in the film. Van Dyke is the only other original cast member to return for this film.
-Marshall and Blunt expressed interest in making another Mary Poppins film, but there is nothing official at this time.
-I thoroughly enjoyed this film and look forward to watching it again.
Mary Poppins Returns (2018) 130 minutes
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins
Lin-Manuel Miranda as Jack
Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks
Emily Mortimer as Jane Banks
Julie Walters as Ellen
Pixie Davies as Annabel Banks
Nathanael Saleh as John Banks
Joel Dawson as Georgie Banks
Colin Firth as William "Weatherall" Wilkins
Meryl Streep as Topsy
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