Mary Poppins Returns
Mary Poppins Returns Director: Rob Marshall
Mary Poppins Returns Cast: Emily Blunt, Dick Van Dyke, Lin-Manuel Miranda
Mary Poppins Returns Movie Stars: 3.5/5
"Nothing is impossible." These words by the 'practically perfect' Mary Poppins is taken quite literally by Rob Marshall who takes the burden of creating a sequel to one the most loved musicals of all time, Mary Poppins. It's hard to believe that the last time we saw the magically wonderful nanny on-screen was in 1964. No one can forget Julie Andrews' legendary performance and while no one could match up to her, Emily Blunt's portrayal of Poppins is like a breath of fresh air. Mary Poppins Returns is the fine line between paying homage to the old and interlacing it with a fresh take.
Mary Poppins Returns takes place 20 years after Mary Poppins bid adieu to the Banks family, and is now in the midst of the Great Depression or the 'Great Slump'. Michael Banks (Ben Whislaw), who is now an adult with three children Annabel, John and Georgie, was recently widowed and due to an unpaid loan, may soon lose his home. Hence, Mary Poppins returns to aid the Banks family once again, along with some assistance by the lamplighter Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), in taking them on the right path as they find a solution their own way. What we are taken on is a topsy-turvy journey where just like the Banks family, things are looking up & up.
Emily's Mary Poppins shares a stark difference from Julie and the actress stands tall in her own might. Just like Ms. Poppins herself, Emily is 'practically perfect' as she becomes one and brings to the silver screen, a character who has been adored for generations. Lin-Manuel Miranda shows us inklings of his Hamilton roots, which were evident in the track, A Cover is Not the Book, and as Jack, he's the perfect counterpart to Emily. Whislaw and Emily Mortimer, who plays Michael's sister Jane Banks stay true to the aura of the original characters from Mary Poppins while Michael's children (played by Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and Joel Dawson) are the heart of the musical. Special appearances are made by Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Colin Firth, which are short but welcomed. And while we would have loved for Julie Andrews to show us once again how it's done, Dick Van Dyke's cameo takes you down memory lane. The length of Mary Poppins Returns was a tad too long for me but Rob Marshall's vision and David Magee's screenplay make it a must-watch for the younger generation, who deserve their own version of Mary Poppins.
Given it's a musical, the soundtrack, though catchy does not have the retaining factor as the original 1964 soundtrack, which has been etched in our minds. However, there are some lovely song and dance numbers to keep you entertained throughout. The emotional factor in each of them elevates you throughout and is a lesson to be learned. Whether it be the subtle yet heartwarming The Place Where Lost Things Go or the foot-tapping Trip a Little Light Fantastic, whose choreography is masterful.
In this tumultuous world, we live in, it's nice to believe in magic sometimes. And what's my final verdict on Mary Poppins Returns? It's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Mary Poppins loyalists know what I'm talking about.
