Emily Blunt takes up the umbrella for this Mary Poppins sequel in which she returns to help the Banks children (who are now grown up) once more. Still grieving the loss of his wife, Michael (Ben Whishaw) is about to lose the family home we all remember – and he can’t find the piece of paper that will fix things for him and his three children.
While out walking with his brother and sister, the youngest of the three, Georgie, flies the old kite and comes back having somehow caught himself a nanny: Mary Poppins. It doesn’t take long before some utterly bonkers and totally magical adventures begin for Mary and the children, with lamp-lighter Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda) and Michael’s sister Jane (Emily Mortimer) along for the fun, too.
Mary Poppins Returns is full of all the energy of the previous outing, with the much-loved hand-drawn animation and a whole new bunch of songs and adventures for the Banks family to enjoy. It has a very theatrical feel to it, with big, bright numbers sure to delight viewers of all ages. One such example, ‘A Cover Is Not The Book’, is so brilliantly put together that viewers may feel compelled to stand and cheer.
Anyone loyal to the first film should not be put off. The sequel is both a loving nod to what has come before and something altogether new and exciting. You might feel as if nothing could possibly top the wonder of ‘Let’s Go Fly A Kite’ but ‘Nowhere To Go But Up’ certainly holds its own.
Blunt and Miranda are enchanting but it’s the ensemble that really carries the film home. With support from the likes of Julie Walters, Colin Firth and Meryl Streep, there is a whole host of brilliant acting talent here and each of them brings humanity and silliness to their character. Throw in two utterly magnificent cameos and Mary Poppins Returns is practically perfect in every way.
Your face will hurt from smiling at all the charm and joy it brings and there might just be a skip in your step as you leave the cinema that stays with you for a good long while.
