Monday, January 14, 2019

Movie Review Monday - Mary Poppins


Nothing can replace Mary Poppins starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. That’s absolute movie law. However, Mary Poppins Returns, is a nice homage to the original with plenty of little reminders (including a scene with very old but spry Dick Van Dyke) of some tunes, frivolity, and instead of chimney sweeps we have lamplighters. All plucky dancers.  This is a movie with musical scenes – if you hate that, bow out now. This is a movie with incredibly wise, cute kids – if you hate that bow out now. But if you are ready for Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins – practically perfect in the right way – then you are in for a treat.

Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane (Emily Mortimer) are grown up now and Michael has kids of his own. His wife passed. Life is in disarray on Cherry Street Lane, and they could lose the house. Time for a wind shift and the arrival of Mary Poppins, carpet bag and talking umbrella in hand. Spit spot – soon she has the kids clean and orderly and ready to be kids again. Each errand or outing is an adventure with a ride in an animated carriage, a swim under the ocean, or a dance with the lamplighters led by Jack (Lin Manuel-Miranda – sparkly eyes and cheeky grin). All in all, they must find bank shares to keep the house from foreclosure. Oh the mean banker (Colin Firth at his stuffiest). Can they beat out that stroke of midnight?

Pleasant tunes, jolly dancing, colorful film-making, and the calm control of Mary Poppins. You can’t lose. I enjoyed Mary Poppins Returns a lot. After a busy week and on a gray dreary Friday, this after work matinee replenished my soul and made me feel like a kid again. Cheers!



16 comments:

  1. Saw Mary Poppins version one didn't know about the second. You seem very taken with it so it must be good. Thanks for sharing Joanne.

    Yvonne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you enjoy music - I bet you'd get a kick out of this new Returns.

      Delete
  2. Not into musicals or cute kids, but I do like Emily Blunt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. rewatch her in Sicario....that's your best bet for a Blunt sighting

      Delete
  3. Hi Joanne - I did enjoy it ... particularly Emily Blunt - it was a good take the gloom away afternoon ... and brilliant colours for Blunt - not brilliant, but delightful - cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. indeed - we are two for two now. You have excellent taste!

      Delete
  4. Thanks for the review. I was wondering how it was. It's hard to imagine anyone but Julie Andrews being Mary Poppins. It seems though, that Emily Blunt played the part well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you'd enjoy it, without destroying the memory of Julie's version

      Delete
  5. Wondered if it held up. Sounds like it did and will be a fun watch.

    ReplyDelete
  6. When we were in Epcot, in 'England' there was a woman who I thought was supposed to be Truly Scrumptious from Chitty Chitty Bang Bag but as it turned out, it was Mary Poppins. She was so elegantly dressed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. absolutely spit spot from hat to shoes. Very prim and proper

      Delete
  7. I agree that nothing can replace the original. It is good to know, however, that this is a spirit lifter and they did good. Thank you, Joanne.
    A pleasant week to you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks Robyn. Honor the old, but appreciate the new. It was fun and Emily Blunt can do no wrong on screen

      Delete
  8. We saw it and loved it! I really liked the homage to the original too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I LOVE musicals and cute kids, so this one's bound to be a winner with me. Not sure about my hubby, so maybe this'll be another one to catch with a gal pal.

    ReplyDelete