Movie Review: Mary Poppins Returns

THIS REVIEW MAY HAVE SOME SPOILERS.

I remembered being one of the people who would enter a video shop and rent Mary Poppins every Monday. Sitting in front of the television, I would then try to imitate Julie Andrews’ Mary Poppins as she sang A Spoonful of Sugar as well as convincing that there is such world out there if you think of the impossible possible. Of course, I still remembered the animation that would take on a larger form of entertainment in the movie as I was too young to understand and feel the story. This happened in 2005 and 13 years later, I get to relive the trip again through Mary Poppins Returns.

Set many years after Mary Poppins had successfully taken care of the Banks family, this time, she returns to help Michael Banks’ family as they are experiencing the likelihood of losing the house as well as the recent loss of the wife/mother who indeed made a significant impact to the family. Its premise remained the same as how anyone would recall from the original which indeed would make any viewers who were entertained by the original movie even more excited. At least, to me, I think that Mary Poppins Returns is a lovely sequel that successfully capture the essence of what makes Poppins Poppins.

Firstly, the original music has some likeness to the previous movie especially songs like Trip A Little Light Fantastic and A Cover Is Not A Book. The music does remind me of what makes Mary Poppins such an interesting Disney movie and I was even more impressed with the production especially when the choreography performed was magnificent that I wished I was part of that world. Secondly, I applaud the fact that the movie remained firm to its decision to have 2D animation – which is already a lost art form that has since been replaced mostly with the use of modern 3D tools and computer animations. I mean, there were a few computer visual effects here and there like the part where Mary Poppins and some characters were in the porcelain bowl. It was truly thrilling to see this aspect. Lastly, the cast were splendid in their own roles and especially Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s synchronous chemistry. I also enjoyed the special appearances by Dick Van Dyke and Meryl Streep, another elevation towards the movie’s light-hearted attitude.

Although Mary Poppins Returns may not provide so much originality and mood as the first one, it still indeed provide the magic that makes Mary Poppins – a movie for family and everyone to enjoy especially during these holidays. I really loved this latest sequel and lots of tremendous respect to the people behind the scenes and the cast for bringing this adaptation back to the screen and making me falling head over heels for the animated characters as well as the soundtrack and the world that most of us know.

What an incredible gift to the cinema this season.

Ratings: 8/10