Mary Poppins Returns: How To Share Magic That’s ‘Perfect’!

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When Disney’s name is attached to any upcoming film, we have the guarantee of a good time. One of their most anticipated releases is a kind of sequel to the 1960s classic with Julie Andrews. This time Emily Blunt picks up the red umbrella in Mary Poppins Returns, and again charms the Banks family.

Mary Poppins Returns (2018) Disney Film Review

Michael Banks (Ben Whishaw) is all grown up. Unfortunately, he’s in a pickle as he struggles to keep his family home. Long gone is the magic of his childhood; when his mortgage is called in, everything becomes serious. This inspires Michael and his sister, Jane (Emily Mortimer) to search for their father’s bank shares. It inspires his three children Anabel, John and Georgie (Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh, Joel Dawson) to help their father. The only question is: how?

The winds of change sweep in with the arrival of the magical Mary Poppins (Blunt), the woman who once saved the Banks family. Now, as she cares for her former charges young children, Mary, alongside her friend, Jack (Lin Manual-Miranda), has lessons to impart.

I’ll be honest; it’s been a long time since I’ve seen the 1964 Disney film. All I really remember about it is that a “spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,” and in a memorable way it features one of (or the?) longest words ever. Vague memories or no, it’s still a film with fond memories attached. This film wisely moves away from being a re-make to instead continue the story we all grew up loving. Disney again strikes gold.

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Mary Poppins Returns

I won’t sit here and say I loved every little thing about this film, but it’s still delightful. The costumes are magnificent, and the storytelling imagination is impeccable. The cast too is without fault, but the music to me, just didn’t seem quite up to task. Perhaps its because the iconic songs from the 60s taint these? Or maybe they just don’t have that same staying power. Whatever the case, for me, they’re forgettable. That said, that choreography is fun, and bright though one number doesn’t really “fit” into the more innocent and imaginative portrait the film otherwise paints.

The cast is all spectacular though! From Emily’s posh-perfect turn as the magical nanny to the young new faces who portray the Banks children, I enjoy each of the actors. We even see Colin Firth and Meryl Streep, and cameos from Angela Lansbury and Dick Van Dyke. How each respective actor plays their characters adds to the charm of the story, and I love that this is a kind of follow-up with the same characters. It’s a nice nod to the original.

Even with my reservations about Mary Poppins Returns, this is the sort of film you walk away from feeling happy, and with a light heart. I most certainly felt this way as I left the Cineplex, which is precisely what I’d imagine filmmakers hope for. There’s ‘practically perfect’ magic in every scene.


Content: with a PG-rating, this one is family safe. There’s some “danger” which may frighten young viewers and minor suggestive comments, but overall, it’s clean.


All photos: Disney

About Rissi JC

amateur graphic designer. confirmed bookaholic. bubbl’r enthusiast. critical thinker. miswesterner. social media coordinator. writer.

8 comments

  1. When I mentioned wanting to see this, everyone in my immediate family confessed they had never seen the original!! I was dumbfounded. And my sister, who is usually my movie partner, said she wasn’t all that interested in watching this one. She wanted to see Aquaman instead. So, now I’m left wondering how I failed my family so magnificently in introducing them to the classic Mary Poppins and who on earth will I find to go see this update with me.

    1. It’s delightful, Brittaney – and if we lived close, I’d see it again with ya’. :) There’s flaws, but it’s also charming; it’s the sort of film that you feel nothing but happiness about as you leave the theater. I think prior to the DVD release for this one, I’m going to buy the 60s film, and re-watch it. It’s been SO long since I saw it. Hope you can get out to see this one!!

  2. I’m looking forward to watching this movie and even my 13 year old daughter who hasn’t seen the original says she wants to see Mary Poppins. I’m looking forward to seeing Lin-Manuel Miranda in a movie as well. It seems to be a light hearted fun movie.

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