By Megan Ruge, Editor-in-Chief
This past year of film has shown a prosperous amount of tired ideas in the world of cinema. Reboots galore and unnecessary spin-offs litter the big screen. Among the reuse of tired ideas has come the invention of long-awaited sequels.
“Mary Poppins Returns” has recently joined “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again” and “The Incredibles 2” on the list of long-awaited sequels to our favorite movies.
Arriving 54 years later, “Mary Poppins Returns” takes place 25 years after the original film. All grown up, Michael has started a family and Jane has come home to help Michael with the kids as they fight the bank to keep their childhood home.
When the children forget what it means to be children, Mary Poppins arrives on the string of a kite to take care of the Banks children once again and renew their sense of happiness. She heads to the Banks’ home to bring joy not only to the children who need it the most, but also to Michael and Jane, who have lost sight of the importance of family and happiness. Mary Poppins shows the Banks family that the most important things can be found inside their greatest childhood memories.
Of course, Mary Poppins is a nanny who creates magical illusions to teach naughty children how to behave, but that’s not all. Mary Poppins represents the wonder of childhood; something much needed in an era of cell phones and screens. Children of the 21st century lack the imagination necessary to live a full and exciting childhood. The “Mary Poppins” sequel comes at the perfect time to remind children how fun an imagination, and how important following the rules, can be.
Though the movie visits the idea of nostalgia and renewed childhood wonder, it truly reads like a love letter to the city of London.
The movie takes place in the Regents Park area of the city, in townhouses next to the park. The children first see their nanny in the park when their baby brother gets caught up chasing a kite through the park before meeting a leary, or lamplighter, who helps the children pull the kite in with Mary Poppins hanging on the tail.
Throughout the movie, you see the city through the eyes of Jack the Leary. Jack loves his job: lighting the lamps at night and putting them out with the sun, illuminating the city that he loves.
In the song “(Underneath the) Lovely London Sky,” Jack sings of a city filled with hope and brand new days. Jack paints a picture of London as a place in which chances sprout anew everyfresh day in a city characterized by gray and dismal skies.
The film also highlights many prominent London landmarks such as the Westminster Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Bank of England and, of course, the Queens Tower most commonly known as “Big Ben.” The film shows the famous architecture like hulking statues of greatness and grandeur. Disney brings absolute artistry to highlighting the British city.
If you haven’t seen “Mary Poppins Returns” yet, now is the time. The film is still showing in most large theaters, including the local AMC. Though it is not a perfect equal to its predecessor, the film does, in fact, highlight the same feel-good sentiment that the original did. Emily Blunt is no Julie Andrews, but I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to stand in her place.
Though the film does feature a cameo from Dick Van Dyke as the bank manager, if you were looking for your Andrews fill, you wouldn’t find it here. There is a spot in the film that was created for her cameo, but the spot was filled instead by an appearance from Angela Lansbury. Andrews, though in full support of the movie, told the team that she did not want to appear on the film because she wanted to give Emily Blunt the respect she deserved. Andrews wanted to give her a chance to recreate the magic of Mary Poppins without the massive distraction of the status as the award-winning original Mary Poppins.
This film renews the spirit of fascination and wonder, yet again bringing to life a woman who is practically perfect in every way. I give this film four out of five stars.
