Buckle up and get ready to smile for two hours and fifteen minutes straight, because this is delightful. Fifty-four years after the original hit theatres, Mary Poppins is back, played this time by the magnificent Emily Blunt.
In this film we see a now grown up Michael Banks struggling financially after the loss of his wife. He is working to make ends meet and forgetting to be happy, with three children that are also struggling with their loss. Who better to help a family in need that Mary Poppins, and a charming lamp lighter named Jack.
Blunt is magnificent as Mary Poppins. This is a great example of an actor inhabiting a role that has been played before but making it her own. The hallmarks of Mary's personality are still there of course, but Blunt gives her a bit more of a sassy edge which I think worked really well. She commands the screen the entire time while leading other characters into some truly heartfelt moments. Jack is played by Lin-Manuel Miranda from Hamilton fame. He is just as delightful as Blunt, clearly having the time of his life while filming this. There are some scenes with him and Blunt that feel very Broadway and he knocks those out of the park, and there is one song that utilizes his rap background really well. He is clearly in his comfort zone, and it is truly amazing to watch. Michael Banks is played by Ben Whishaw, and while he may not be bringing the smiles that his other character Paddington does, he still delivers some great, and very heartfelt work. Another Paddington alum charming the film is Julie Walters, who as usual has some lighthearted snarkiness to her that made for some hilarious moments. Michael's sister Jane is played by Emily Mortimer, and she was also lovely. Much like Mary Poppins, Jane is always doing what she can to brighten the mood, and really makes the film more enjoyable. Other big name actors in the film are Colin Firth and Merryl Streep, although neither make a huge splash due to limited screen time.
The film's story may be a tad formulaic, and the songs aren't as memorable as in the original, but along with the acting there is much to love. The costume design will certainly be Oscar nominated, with costumes that are both beautiful and fitting. There is one scene where the characters interact with animated ones, and they all wear outfits that look hand-drawn. The set design is also magnificent all around, and is likely the best we've seen all year. The cinematography was also quite good throughout, and in tandem with the production design the film is quite beautiful. For a fairly lengthy movie this is paced quite well, with the film never being dull but also never going by too fast.
All in all, this movie is worth the price of admission for the smiles it causes alone. My girlfriend was beaming throughout and I was as well. This is the perfect film for the holiday season, and great for the whole family.
Rating: 4.35/5
Written by Matt McKenzie
In this film we see a now grown up Michael Banks struggling financially after the loss of his wife. He is working to make ends meet and forgetting to be happy, with three children that are also struggling with their loss. Who better to help a family in need that Mary Poppins, and a charming lamp lighter named Jack.
Blunt is magnificent as Mary Poppins. This is a great example of an actor inhabiting a role that has been played before but making it her own. The hallmarks of Mary's personality are still there of course, but Blunt gives her a bit more of a sassy edge which I think worked really well. She commands the screen the entire time while leading other characters into some truly heartfelt moments. Jack is played by Lin-Manuel Miranda from Hamilton fame. He is just as delightful as Blunt, clearly having the time of his life while filming this. There are some scenes with him and Blunt that feel very Broadway and he knocks those out of the park, and there is one song that utilizes his rap background really well. He is clearly in his comfort zone, and it is truly amazing to watch. Michael Banks is played by Ben Whishaw, and while he may not be bringing the smiles that his other character Paddington does, he still delivers some great, and very heartfelt work. Another Paddington alum charming the film is Julie Walters, who as usual has some lighthearted snarkiness to her that made for some hilarious moments. Michael's sister Jane is played by Emily Mortimer, and she was also lovely. Much like Mary Poppins, Jane is always doing what she can to brighten the mood, and really makes the film more enjoyable. Other big name actors in the film are Colin Firth and Merryl Streep, although neither make a huge splash due to limited screen time.
The film's story may be a tad formulaic, and the songs aren't as memorable as in the original, but along with the acting there is much to love. The costume design will certainly be Oscar nominated, with costumes that are both beautiful and fitting. There is one scene where the characters interact with animated ones, and they all wear outfits that look hand-drawn. The set design is also magnificent all around, and is likely the best we've seen all year. The cinematography was also quite good throughout, and in tandem with the production design the film is quite beautiful. For a fairly lengthy movie this is paced quite well, with the film never being dull but also never going by too fast.
All in all, this movie is worth the price of admission for the smiles it causes alone. My girlfriend was beaming throughout and I was as well. This is the perfect film for the holiday season, and great for the whole family.
Rating: 4.35/5
Written by Matt McKenzie
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