Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
There was quite a bit of controversy leading up to the release of Mary Poppins Returns. Would Emily Blunt live up to Julie Andrews’s immortal portrayal from 1964? Would it be too much of a remake or not enough? Is it a sequel? Why wouldn’t Julie Andrews agree to appear in a cameo to show her support to all the fans who supported her the past 55 years? There were many people who just didn’t want to like it. They were determined, and no amount of fine acting, lovely songs, interesting directing, and memorable costumes and sets would change their minds. If you’re one of those people, don’t bother renting it and stick with the original. There’s nothing wrong with a healthy dose of loyalty; I refuse to call any other version of The Great Gatsby legitimate besides the 1974 version.
Those of you who aren’t on Team 1964, you’re in for a delightful treat. The costumes are adorable, the sets are interesting and inventive, Rob Marshall’s direction is fantastic—as always—and the songs are fun and touching. What does it matter that Emily Blunt isn’t a clone of Julie Andrews? She’s still uptight, structured, beautiful, grumpy, and interested in helping the family she loves. What does it matter that the Bert character has been replaced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and that a reminder of “don’t look at the camera” is practically stamped on his forehead in every scene? You still get to see Dick Van Dyke, and he’s given such respect and love in his scenes, you’ll reach for your Kleenex box.
Some people I talked to claimed it was too much of a remake. It was exactly the same as the original: Nanny comes to the children, father is preoccupied with the bank, they go into a china bowl instead of a chalk painting, a chimney sweep is the sidekick who dances around lampposts, instead of Uncle Albert laughing on the ceiling, Cousin Topsy flips everything upside down, kites are an important plot point, and the songs could have easily been leftovers from 1964 that didn’t make it in the final cut. Personally, I think making a remake that’s so closely related to the original shows respect and reverence. Do you know how much more work it would take to create something similar yet fresh, rather than to completely ditch any semblance to the original and create something brand-new? It’s infinitely harder to do what the creators of Mary Poppins Returns did, and if you know the 1964 movie well, you’ll be able to appreciate the little touches and similarities. It doesn’t mean they took the easy way out; believe me, they took the harder path.
The plot itself is both sweet and sad: Jane and Michael Banks are all grown up. Michael is a recent widower, and as he struggles to raise his two young children, he also struggles to make enough money to keep the family house. In breezes Mary Poppins to help them all remember what’s important. It’s the perfect way to remind audiences of the original, and in adding in the fresh touches and slight twists (like singing “Nowhere to Go But Up” with balloons instead of “Let’s Go Fly a Kite”) it’s a great tribute to show that no matter how old we are, or what generation we belong to, we can all cry over the same songs and bond over the same lessons.
If you’re still undecided about whether or not you should rent it, look to the cast list. Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer really feel like Michael and Jane Banks, Meryl Streep plays the kooky cousin, Colin Firth is the head of the bank, Julie Walters is the housekeeper, and David Warner is the admiral. Dick Van Dyke is given the cutest part in the movie as he plays Mr. Dawes, Jr. (also all grown up) and he gets plenty of close-ups to smile at the audience and say, “I’ve still got it!” as well as an opportunity to tap dance on top of a table! Angela Lansbury gets a cute cameo, as does Karen Dotrice, who gets to say, “Many thanks, sincerely,” to give the audience a chuckle. Both ladies come and go quickly, so keep your eyes peeled.
I loved Mary Poppins Returns, mostly because of the obvious love it had for its predecessor. This is not a movie that says, “I can do it better.” It says, “Thank you for your movie, and I hope you like mine, too.” Just rent it. You’ll find yourself singing the songs for the rest of the week, I guarantee it.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. During the “Turning Turtle” number, the entire set turns upside down, and that will make you sick. In other words, “Don’t Look, Mom!”
More Meryl Streep movies here!
More Dick Van Dyke movies here!
Those of you who aren’t on Team 1964, you’re in for a delightful treat. The costumes are adorable, the sets are interesting and inventive, Rob Marshall’s direction is fantastic—as always—and the songs are fun and touching. What does it matter that Emily Blunt isn’t a clone of Julie Andrews? She’s still uptight, structured, beautiful, grumpy, and interested in helping the family she loves. What does it matter that the Bert character has been replaced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and that a reminder of “don’t look at the camera” is practically stamped on his forehead in every scene? You still get to see Dick Van Dyke, and he’s given such respect and love in his scenes, you’ll reach for your Kleenex box.
Some people I talked to claimed it was too much of a remake. It was exactly the same as the original: Nanny comes to the children, father is preoccupied with the bank, they go into a china bowl instead of a chalk painting, a chimney sweep is the sidekick who dances around lampposts, instead of Uncle Albert laughing on the ceiling, Cousin Topsy flips everything upside down, kites are an important plot point, and the songs could have easily been leftovers from 1964 that didn’t make it in the final cut. Personally, I think making a remake that’s so closely related to the original shows respect and reverence. Do you know how much more work it would take to create something similar yet fresh, rather than to completely ditch any semblance to the original and create something brand-new? It’s infinitely harder to do what the creators of Mary Poppins Returns did, and if you know the 1964 movie well, you’ll be able to appreciate the little touches and similarities. It doesn’t mean they took the easy way out; believe me, they took the harder path.
The plot itself is both sweet and sad: Jane and Michael Banks are all grown up. Michael is a recent widower, and as he struggles to raise his two young children, he also struggles to make enough money to keep the family house. In breezes Mary Poppins to help them all remember what’s important. It’s the perfect way to remind audiences of the original, and in adding in the fresh touches and slight twists (like singing “Nowhere to Go But Up” with balloons instead of “Let’s Go Fly a Kite”) it’s a great tribute to show that no matter how old we are, or what generation we belong to, we can all cry over the same songs and bond over the same lessons.
If you’re still undecided about whether or not you should rent it, look to the cast list. Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer really feel like Michael and Jane Banks, Meryl Streep plays the kooky cousin, Colin Firth is the head of the bank, Julie Walters is the housekeeper, and David Warner is the admiral. Dick Van Dyke is given the cutest part in the movie as he plays Mr. Dawes, Jr. (also all grown up) and he gets plenty of close-ups to smile at the audience and say, “I’ve still got it!” as well as an opportunity to tap dance on top of a table! Angela Lansbury gets a cute cameo, as does Karen Dotrice, who gets to say, “Many thanks, sincerely,” to give the audience a chuckle. Both ladies come and go quickly, so keep your eyes peeled.
I loved Mary Poppins Returns, mostly because of the obvious love it had for its predecessor. This is not a movie that says, “I can do it better.” It says, “Thank you for your movie, and I hope you like mine, too.” Just rent it. You’ll find yourself singing the songs for the rest of the week, I guarantee it.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. During the “Turning Turtle” number, the entire set turns upside down, and that will make you sick. In other words, “Don’t Look, Mom!”
More Meryl Streep movies here!
More Dick Van Dyke movies here!