Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

My Review

“Mary Poppins Returns” continues the story of the popular nanny returning to visit Michael and Jane Banks, the children she raised who are now adults, dealing with problems of their own. Director Rob Marshall (“Chicago” 2002) and screenwriter David Magee have turned out a high quality and entertaining sequel to Walt Disney’s classic “Mary Poppins” (1964). It has a 15 minute animation sequence reminiscent of the similar segment in the original.

Emily Blunt does an excellent job in the role originated by Julie Andrews, as well as anyone is able to fill the magical shoes. Co-stars include Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer as the adult Banks children, Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh, Joel Dawson as Michael Banks’ three kids, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury, Meryl Streep, David Warner, and original cast member Dick Van Dyke as chairman of the bank. The weak link in the “Returns” chain is Lin-Manuel Miranda who delivers a wobbly performance as a cockney lamplighter. This was the final motion picture for David Warner, who began his movie career in 1962.

The watchable “Mary Poppins Returns” was popular at the box office for Walt Disney Pictures, Marc Platt Productions, Lucamar Productions, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, and The Walt Disney Company. It was filmed at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England. It received four Oscar nods – Best Original Score (Marc Shaiman), Best Original Song (Shaiman and Scott Whitman), Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design.