When it was announced Mary Poppins was getting a sequel in Mary Poppins Returns, there was plenty of hesitation. For the most part, much of that hesitation was understandable given its status as one of Walt Disney’s greatest achievements and a masterpiece in the musical genre. Thankfully, however, Mary Poppins Returns resurrects the joy, beauty, and charm of the original while also possessing its own original sense of wonder and magic.
A couple decades after the events of the original film, siblings Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane Banks (Emily Mortimer) have since grown up into hardworking yet troubled adults, with Annabel dedicated to life as a labor organizer and Michael having lost his wife recently. At the same time, Michael and his three children, Annabel, John, and Georgie, are in danger of being evicted from their home. With their troubles growing ever so gradually, it’s time for Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) to help the Banks siblings once again and help them bring joy and magic back into their lives.
What transpires is a whimsical adventure filled to the brim with enough happiness, joy, comfort, warmth, and cheer to make even the most cynical man crack a smile. From beginning to end, the film just oozes with positivity that you can’t help but smile the whole way through. Part of that is due to the undeniably catchy musical numbers and songs, which by the way aren’t present in the original and are completely new and original. The expertly choreographed and beautifully sung numbers are each distinct and infectious. You simply have no choice but to tap your foot or hum to the rhythm. Even though I wouldn’t call them as memorable as “A Spoonful of Sugar” or “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” they’re incredibly fun to watch and listen to nonetheless.
But it’s the cast that makes the film as magical as it is. Every cast member gives it their all, bringing plenty of gravitas, drama, humor, wit, and energy to go around. Emily Blunt absolutely dominates the screen, giving one of her best, if not her best, performances in her career. She is the heart of this film and keeps this film and its components together. Blunt never makes an attempt to impersonate or mimic Julie Andrews and fully embraces the character as her own, providing a bit more rigidness to the character than Andrews did. But Blunt also manages to balance that strictness with wisdom and tenderness that result in us being reminded as to why Mary Poppins is such a captivating figure to begin with.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, taking on the role previously played by Dick Van Dyke, plays the character of Jack, a lamplighter, with confidence and is instantly likeable the instant he sings the first musical verses of the film. Meant to obviously reflect the friendship of Mary and Bert back in 1964, Blunt and Miranda perfectly play off each other like they’re genuinely old friends and their banter brings so much joy. In what has to be the best musical number of the film, both Blunt and Miranda perform in an animated stage with animated characters and Miranda even gets to let out a bit of his rapping skills to wondrous results.
Whishaw and Mortimer successfully bring that sense of adulthood to the story and encapsulate everything we hate about being adults. But you understand their responsibilities and connect with their struggles, especially since they retain the wit and banter of their childhood selves. The children themselves were really surprising, never feeling out of place or jarring in their performances. They felt like genuine kids who were given the burdens of adulthood too early because of their mother’s passing.
However, at its core, the film is basically a redo of the first film. It’s not a shot-by-shot recreation, but you do get a sense of familiarity in regards to its themes, story beats, and ultimate conclusion. If you saw the original Mary Poppins, you’re more than likely going to have a basic understanding of how the story will thematically play out. Speaking of story, at one point you do begin to feel the runtime play out a little. Given it’s 2 hours and 20 minutes, it possible to shave off about 10 minutes.
But director Rob Marshall, who has a bit of experience with musicals, never tries to solely rely on the original for nostalgia. Despite its thematic familiarity, the film perfectly stands as its own story with its own characters and setting while also occasionally making slight nods to the original, but not in ways that are overbearing. More importantly, the story has heart. There’s a sense of passion in its characters, stories, and music that clearly demonstrates Marshall’s love for the genre.
Overall, Mary Poppins Returns commits itself to bringing you delight, joy, and glee with successful results. A handful of familiarities aren’t enough to hinder the imagination and wonder that irradiates from every character and every musical number, with Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda giving powerhouse performances. Many of us go through times of doubt and gloominess, and we’re going through such a time right now. That’s why it’s important we have films like Mary Poppins Returns. It’s a film that reminds you that there’s still magic out there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3jsfXDZLIY&t=1s&w=585