Movie Review: Mary Poppins Returns
Amidst the Great Depression, the opening scene of “Mary Poppins Returns” reveals Jack, played by Hamilton’s Lin Manuel-Miranda, as he tends to the streetlamps of the gloomy London streets. Though hints of economic strain touch the backdrop of his scene—from lines of families waiting for food to the gritty colors that surround him—he chooses to see the joy in life, eyes turned to the “Lovely London sky.”
As the scene continues, Jack bikes down the cobblestone streets and alleyways, giving rides to children and throwing apples to the hungry while singing over the hum of a cheery and leisurely Disney score. The grin on his face is infectious. From the start of the film, we are shown sugary-sweet perspective to combat the darker days of our lives.
The moment Mary Poppins appears on screen, the film is brought fully to life. Though Blunt’s performance nods at Julie Andrews’ original performance of a prim, though young-at-heart and caring nanny, Blunt puts her own spin on the character, arguably playing Poppins with less overt warmth.
We then meet the Banks family; Michael and Jane, respectively portrayed by Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer, are original characters from the original Mary Poppins movie. Now all grown up with three young children of his own, Michael is struggling to cope with financial stress on top of the loss of his wife. His economic struggles have pushed him to take out a loan from a bank to pay for rent. With the payment long overdue, he is visited by two lawyers threatening to repossess his house if the loan cannot be paid in full by the end of the week.
It is in the midst of this distress that Mary Poppins makes her return gliding down to earth on an umbrella. Played by Emily Blunt, Poppins announces her desire to return to her job of caring for the Banks family. After her return Poppins tries to help Michael’s children who are taking on heavy responsibilities after the absence of their mother and, in more indirect ways, to ease the pain of their grieving father.
The moment Mary Poppins appears on screen, the film is brought fully to life. Though Blunt’s performance nods at Julie Andrews’ original performance of a prim, though young-at-heart and caring nanny, Blunt puts her own spin on the character, arguably playing Poppins with less overt warmth.
Regardless, the movie’s most memorable moments are centered around the character’s penchant for fun and tender fostering of the Banks children’s imaginations. In one scene, the kids break a bowl with importance to their late mother. To fix the damage, Mary Poppins and Jack take them on a trip into the artwork decorating the broken piece. The two-dimensional animations are a colorful homage to the first movie, and the creativity of the drawings is thoroughly charming.
Though much of the appeal of the film lies in its optimism, it has received much criticism for its overwhelming sentimentality. Michael’s heartbreak cuts some bitterness into the heaping spoonfuls of sugar. His sadness appropriately sobers the movie, from a movie that would have lacked conflict and had an unreflective vision of reality.
In the movie’s final scenes, Michael’s children remind him that their mother isn’t truly gone but rather she lives on in their shared memories. It’s a touching scene of the strength of family and the wisdom that kids bring to the world.
All in all, “Mary Poppins Returns” has succeeded in breathing new life into a childhood classic. This movie would be a nice study break for anyone who needs a burst of positivity. The cinematography brings color to contrast drab winter landscape outside. In moments where we’re feeling down, this uplift is a much-needed reminder of the joy we already have and the joy that’s to come—the joy of family, friendship, song and the cleverness within our own minds.