Mary Poppins Returns is a gift for the holiday! The film is a welcome wonder fifty four years after the original Disney movie. We need a magical movie in these dark times. P.L. Travers wrote eight Mary Poppins books. It shares the introduction of Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins Comes Back (1935) and some elements of the third book, Mary Poppins Opens the Door (1943). The new movie is directed by Rob Marshall who also directed Chicago (2002) and Into the Woods (2014) for Disney. The story is by Rob Marshall, David Magee who wrote Finding Neverland (2004), and John DeLuca, who produced Into the Woods. The screenplay is by Magee.
The film starts with an extreme closeup of a flame, this pulls back to a street lamp tended by Lamplighter Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda). This is his first big role, but he provided lyrics to Moana (2016) and voices Gizmoduck on the DuckTales animated series for Disney. Miranda of course is known for the musical Hamilton (2015) and here he shows all of his singing, acting, and dancing ability. It is inevitable that a comparison is made to Bert and the opening proves Miranda as a character to fit right in with the Mary Poppins fantasy. He immediately goes into the “Underneath the Lovely London Sky” song, The lyrics are by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman. Scott Wittman worked on the television series Smash along with Marc Shaiman who also provides the score. Original lyrcist, Richard M. Sherman, is noted as musical consultant.
The film starts with an extreme closeup of a flame, this pulls back to a street lamp tended by Lamplighter Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda). This is his first big role, but he provided lyrics to Moana (2016) and voices Gizmoduck on the DuckTales animated series for Disney. Miranda of course is known for the musical Hamilton (2015) and here he shows all of his singing, acting, and dancing ability. It is inevitable that a comparison is made to Bert and the opening proves Miranda as a character to fit right in with the Mary Poppins fantasy. He immediately goes into the “Underneath the Lovely London Sky” song, The lyrics are by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman. Scott Wittman worked on the television series Smash along with Marc Shaiman who also provides the score. Original lyrcist, Richard M. Sherman, is noted as musical consultant.
We get the foggy London background as Jack bikes through the streets lined with people in a food line. Jack reaches a park and then we pan down Cherry Tree Lane, the setting of the first Mary Poppins, that features epic matte paintings that remind me of the work of Peter Ellenshaw. It is realistic, but enhances the beauty of the setting. Jack rolls up and smiles to see the ship molded onto a house rooftop. Out comes Admiral Boom played by the great David Warner, he was in an episode of The Alienist, also Titanic (1997), and the perfect villain in Tron (1982). It was just a joy to see him in a movie. He is assisted by Binnacle played by Jim Norton.
Jack takes out a ladder to tend to the lamp as two children watch him from the window. This is Anabel (Pixie Davies) and John Banks (Nathanel Saleh). Pixie was previously in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016) and currently in the sci fi show Humans. Nathanel is in Game of Thrones as Arthur. The kids prove themselves as actors and also handle the complicated singing and dancing. Jack finishes his song and we shift to the grey London sky which is a painting that immediately took me back to the original movie more than the street setting with overtures of the score. Admiral Boom is annoyed at the clanging of Big Ben’s chimes which he says is too early. Binnacle points out storm clouds as two suited-types approach the Banks house.
Jack takes out a ladder to tend to the lamp as two children watch him from the window. This is Anabel (Pixie Davies) and John Banks (Nathanel Saleh). Pixie was previously in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016) and currently in the sci fi show Humans. Nathanel is in Game of Thrones as Arthur. The kids prove themselves as actors and also handle the complicated singing and dancing. Jack finishes his song and we shift to the grey London sky which is a painting that immediately took me back to the original movie more than the street setting with overtures of the score. Admiral Boom is annoyed at the clanging of Big Ben’s chimes which he says is too early. Binnacle points out storm clouds as two suited-types approach the Banks house.
Inside, the house is in disarray with the housekeeper, Ellen (Julie Walters) rushing out to say the sink is spraying water. Walters is Rosie in the current Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and played Molly Weasley in the Harry Potter films. She calls out for Michael and Jane. These were the kids from the first film all grown up played by Ben Whishaw, who was last year the voice of the bear in Paddington 2 and also Q in the James Bond movies, and Emily Mortimer, she is in this year’s drama Head Full of Honey and voiced Holley Shiftwell in Cars 2 (2011) for Disney. Jane calls for Anabel and John who immediately set to working on another house emergency.
Down the stairs also comes Georgie played by newcomer Joel Dawson with his stuffie giraffe. I was immediately thinking the youngest would be our pov character and the older siblings Ellen hears knocking and goes to answer the door. The suited strangers introduce themselves as lawyers. They have put a notice of repossession of the house. Ellen shuts the door. Very funny. The knocking continues and Michael invites the lawyers in. There is the formal Hamilton Gooding (Jeremy Swift) and Templeton Frye (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith). Jane plays at the name of their law firm and Gooding notices that Jane works for S.P.R.U.C.E. She explains that it is an organization that protects worker rights. Jane is in the mold of her activist mother, but we never get to see her actually working so her character is not as strong. Frye asks about the family and this leads to Michael who explains his wife, Kate, died last year. Her death is a sobering central point of the film, she was the lynchpin of the family, this is so sad a young child started crying at the showing I saw, so be warned about very young ones.
Down the stairs also comes Georgie played by newcomer Joel Dawson with his stuffie giraffe. I was immediately thinking the youngest would be our pov character and the older siblings Ellen hears knocking and goes to answer the door. The suited strangers introduce themselves as lawyers. They have put a notice of repossession of the house. Ellen shuts the door. Very funny. The knocking continues and Michael invites the lawyers in. There is the formal Hamilton Gooding (Jeremy Swift) and Templeton Frye (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith). Jane plays at the name of their law firm and Gooding notices that Jane works for S.P.R.U.C.E. She explains that it is an organization that protects worker rights. Jane is in the mold of her activist mother, but we never get to see her actually working so her character is not as strong. Frye asks about the family and this leads to Michael who explains his wife, Kate, died last year. Her death is a sobering central point of the film, she was the lynchpin of the family, this is so sad a young child started crying at the showing I saw, so be warned about very young ones.
Gooding says that Michael has taken a loan against his house, he has five days to pay back the loan or the house will be taken away. Michael is stunned since he works for Fidelity Fiduciary Bank as a bank teller, part time, since he is also a painter. This is the same bank his father worked as a partner. Jane brings up that their father had shares in the bank. The explosion from Admiral Boom’s cannon rocks the house. Frye seems to be sympathize with the Banks and Gooding sees themselves out. Michael, of course, wants to keep the house since it keeps the memory of his wife. He suspects the shares could be in the attic. The children are sent to buy groceries while Michael and Jane check the attic. They reach the park and meet Miss Lark (Sudha Bhuchar) who walks her dog, a cameo character from the first film.
In the attic, Michael finds a music box and a pearl necklace belonging to his wife, he sings “A Conversation” to his wife explaining that he is at a lost without her. He is annoyed by things from their childhood like a snow globe and the kite. Michael packs them up in a box and takes it outside. The wind tosses the kite away, it passes Jack, and Georgie runs after it in the park. He finds it and immediately begins flying it, the wind is strong, and pulls Georgie away. Jack helps Georgie with the kite, the clouds break, and out comes Mary Poppins floating down gracefully. She of course is played by Emily Blunt, also in A Quiet Place, and earlier was the Baker’s Wife in Marshall’s Into the Woods. Mary Poppins is dressed in a smart blue coat and red hat, the costumes are by Sandy Powell, who also designed the costumes for Cinderella (2015). Blunt’s performance is interesting, it is not to divert the children with magic, it is really to help them and the family take care of the situation on their own.
In the attic, Michael finds a music box and a pearl necklace belonging to his wife, he sings “A Conversation” to his wife explaining that he is at a lost without her. He is annoyed by things from their childhood like a snow globe and the kite. Michael packs them up in a box and takes it outside. The wind tosses the kite away, it passes Jack, and Georgie runs after it in the park. He finds it and immediately begins flying it, the wind is strong, and pulls Georgie away. Jack helps Georgie with the kite, the clouds break, and out comes Mary Poppins floating down gracefully. She of course is played by Emily Blunt, also in A Quiet Place, and earlier was the Baker’s Wife in Marshall’s Into the Woods. Mary Poppins is dressed in a smart blue coat and red hat, the costumes are by Sandy Powell, who also designed the costumes for Cinderella (2015). Blunt’s performance is interesting, it is not to divert the children with magic, it is really to help them and the family take care of the situation on their own.
She knows all of the children which surprises them and Jack explains he was their age when he worked for a chimney sweep. Mary asks about Bert and Jack says he’s traveling the world. She has them return home since Michael obviously needs a nanny again. Georgie enters his house screaming for his father and brings in Mary Poppins. Michael is stunned, Mary tells him to close his mouth, “we still not a codfish”, and she tells Jane not to giggle. The children join them, Mary Poppins says they need her services, Jane agrees. The children go upstairs and Michael and Jane discuss if their childhood adventures really happened while Mary Poppins floats up the stair rail, love it!
Georgie is amazed at the magical things that Mary Poppins does including her talking parrot umbrella voiced by Edward Hibbert. Mary Poppins says she will be there “until the door opens.” In the bathroom, Mary has the kids in the bath clothes and prepares the bath including bubbles. She starts to sing “Can You Imagine That?” confronting Anabel and John’s cynicism with imagination. A dolphin pops out of the bubbles. Georgie goes into the tub following by his siblings. Mary says, “Here we go”, she is telling everyone that the adventure is going to begin, and drops in. We get the underwater world that is more convincing than what was in Aquaman. They see persons from Cherry Tree Lane, Mary Poppins in aqua colored swimwear, and sing along with her song. The songs are clever and bring in some hints of adult humor.
Georgie is amazed at the magical things that Mary Poppins does including her talking parrot umbrella voiced by Edward Hibbert. Mary Poppins says she will be there “until the door opens.” In the bathroom, Mary has the kids in the bath clothes and prepares the bath including bubbles. She starts to sing “Can You Imagine That?” confronting Anabel and John’s cynicism with imagination. A dolphin pops out of the bubbles. Georgie goes into the tub following by his siblings. Mary says, “Here we go”, she is telling everyone that the adventure is going to begin, and drops in. We get the underwater world that is more convincing than what was in Aquaman. They see persons from Cherry Tree Lane, Mary Poppins in aqua colored swimwear, and sing along with her song. The songs are clever and bring in some hints of adult humor.
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Picture of the Banks family prop, El Capitan Theatre, photo by the author.
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The children are excited about their adventure, but their father silences them and then apologizes. I really like Michael’s parenting, he deals with frustration, but the children are his biggest concern. Jane brings up that their father may have kept the shares in his safety deposit at the bank. Michael and Jane go to find the key. Mary Poppins picks up a paper to put in a box, the papers float into it, and she gives Georgie the box. I’m reminded of the movie The Prestige (2006) and can see the magic trick here. You have to pay attention that Mary Poppins will do something seemingly ordinary, but she is really setting into motion things that will turn into something good. Georgie takes the box to the kitchen and finds a drawing by his father of their family. He folds the paper into his pocket.
The next day, it is pouring rain at the bank, Michael has not found the shares in the safety deposit box. Jane asks if they can get help from Mr. Dawes Jr. Michael explains his nephew is in charge of the bank. Jane goes to meet him. Jane greets the receptionist, Miss Penny Parthing (Noma Dumezweni), love the name! Her conversation gets the interest of the bank chairman, William Wetherall Wilkins, played with flair and menace by Colin Firth. He is also in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and of course won the Academy Award for The King’s Speech (2010). Wilkins takes them into his office and says that Mr. Dawes is out of his mind. They ask about a record of the shares and Miss Farthing brings in the shareholder’s record book. He says there is no record, but he will be there until midnight to give them time. We have the animated segment that looks like traditional animation from Jim Capobianco and Ken Duncan with the “A Cover is Not the Book”, one of the most fun songs in the film. The movie offers a very emotional core, fun, songs, and a touch of romance. It features some magical cameos not only from the original film, but also from Disney legend. Mary Poppins Returns is practically perfect!
The next day, it is pouring rain at the bank, Michael has not found the shares in the safety deposit box. Jane asks if they can get help from Mr. Dawes Jr. Michael explains his nephew is in charge of the bank. Jane goes to meet him. Jane greets the receptionist, Miss Penny Parthing (Noma Dumezweni), love the name! Her conversation gets the interest of the bank chairman, William Wetherall Wilkins, played with flair and menace by Colin Firth. He is also in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and of course won the Academy Award for The King’s Speech (2010). Wilkins takes them into his office and says that Mr. Dawes is out of his mind. They ask about a record of the shares and Miss Farthing brings in the shareholder’s record book. He says there is no record, but he will be there until midnight to give them time. We have the animated segment that looks like traditional animation from Jim Capobianco and Ken Duncan with the “A Cover is Not the Book”, one of the most fun songs in the film. The movie offers a very emotional core, fun, songs, and a touch of romance. It features some magical cameos not only from the original film, but also from Disney legend. Mary Poppins Returns is practically perfect!
Five Balloons out of Five!
#MaryPoppinsReturns, #RobMarshall, #EmilyBlunt, LinManuelMiranda
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