Trying to reboot a classic movie is risky business. Although Mary Poppins Returns features a wonderful cast–Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Meryl Streep, Angela Lansbury, Dick Van Dyke, Colin Firth, and Julie Walters–the script just isn’t magical enough. Mary Poppins makes a great entrance with her talking umbrella, but things slow down to a crawl with the sub-plot of Micheal and Jane Banks (Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer) trying to save their home from foreclosure by an evil banker (Firth). Several musical numbers look great on the screen, but the music in Mary Poppins Returns is instantly forgettable. No “A Spoonful of Sugar” or “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocous” graces this sequel. I hope Mary Poppins returns, but with a better movie next time. GRADE: B
I didn’t get too far with Travers’s novel as a kid, but wonder if actually adapting that might not help…
Todd, I’m tempted to read Traver’s Mary Poppins novels. I think there are six of them.
No “Feed the Birds?”
Dan, there is a CGI routine with birds (not real) but no feeding the birds in this movie.
Meryl Streep? PASS! In fact, I never saw the first one!
Bob, the first Mary Poppins movie made movie history because of the mix of live action and cartoons along with good music and dance routines. Worth a look!
Pass
Jeff, you might want to give MARY POPPINS RETURNS when it gets to Netflix.
Nope. I have nothing against the concept, but I so rely go to a movie, this wouldn’t make the mark.
Rick, you’re right. BLACK PANTHER and THE AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR are better than MARY POPPINS RETURNS.
Never cared for the first one. Have no interest in this one. Hated the songs in the first one, just found them annoying.
Steve, I know what you mean by the music in the first Mary Poppins movie. It was full faux-English songs that really didn’t ring true.