With the sequel coming out this weekend I thought I would take a look at the 2006 film Nanny McPhee. The film stars Emma Thompson, who also wrote the screenplay, as Nanny McPhee, who comes when you need her but don't want her and must leave when you want her and don't need her. Before watching this I wondered if, after Mary Poppins, the world needed another film about a magical British nanny and I guess we did. maybe we didn't need it but it was very enjoyable just the same.
Nanny McPhee tells the story of Cedric Brown, played by Colin Firth, a widow, and his seven unruly children. The children delight in scaring off nannies and working her to make sure they do not acquire a mean stepmother. But Cedric is at his financial end, and if does not follow his great-aunts wishes and take a new wife his allowance will be cut off. Unable to find a replacement nanny (the 18th) he does not know where to turn when Nanny McPhee turns up on his doorstep.
She may be as magical as Mary Poppins, but she is not as pretty. With a bulbous nose, ruddy complexion, a unibrow, warts, graying hair, lumpy figure and a snaggle-tooth, she looks more like a witch than a nanny.
She begins to set things right in the household by teaching the children five lessons. It also seems she has some lessons for the father as well.
The movie is a brightly colored fairy tale for children. At first I was annoyed by the noisy behavior of the kids and I was prepared for a rather unpleasant experience, but the movie changes tone when nanny McPhee arrives and does become a little magical. The story is contrived and the humor is over the top, but Emma Thompson and Colin Firth hold their own amidst the magical happenings. The movie also features Imelda Staunton as the house cook, Kelly MacDonald as the scullery maid, and Angela Landsbury as great-aunt Adelaide.
It's a kids movie but it works its magic on adults too.
At the Movie House rating *** stars
3 comments:
Please tell me when Netflix, Blockbuster or the movie theaters are paying people money to see this film...At that time, I might ocnsider seeing it...As for the sequal....I'll say it before it comes out...What were they thinking?
Dear Anonymous,
They were thinking that it is time to make films that teach children about respect for elders, having good manners, knowing when it is important to listen to what others are saying and knowing when to think for yourself. With the crap that passes for kids movies today, Dogs & Cats II: the Revenge Of Kitty Galore, Marmaduke, Space Chimps, etc. ) it is good that they still make old fashioned, entertaining films that teach valuable life lessons for children.
As I said in the review it is a movie for kids, but entertaining for adults who are also young at heart.
For those adults who are mean, old crumudgeons, that have no joy, judge everything before they know anything about it and go through life in a cranky disposition, they can skip this movie. it is best that they sit on the proch and yell at the kids who run by in case they cut across the lawn.
Joe
Bravo, great response ot that jerk!!! By the way, Mary Poppins was the second movie i ever saw in my life (Sword and Stone was the first) and I was mesmerized by Julie Andrews
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