Writer/Producer/Director Rob Marshall’s Mary
Poppins Returns was the Holiday film I most looked forward to seeing
and it delivered up to 90%+ of my expectations.
There are parts of this film that are truly magical and
absolutely wonderful, starting with the cast, including Lin-Manuel Miranda,
Emily Mortimer and the children (Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh & Joel
Dawson). Meryl Streep, Julie Walters,
Angela Lansbury, David Warner and Colin Firth add to the fun. And, Dick Van Dyke is the showstopper,
drawing instant applause from the viewing audience.
That being said, there is no getting away from comparing Emily
Blunt to Julie Andrews. And, as great as
I think Emily is, no one beats Julie. And I think it’s because Emily’s Mary
Poppins is a bit too austere.
But, the real mistake in the casting is Ben Whishaw as
the father of the central family. His anger and darkness just does not
work. Someone like Domnall Gleeson (Peter
Rabbit, About Time) was needed. Then, this film would be tipping the
scales.
Despite its few flaws, Mary Poppins Returns is a
Holiday joy for the entire family. I
give it a 4.5 out of 5.
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