Review of Mary Poppins Returns (2018) by Markhreviews — 28 Dec 2018

“Mary Poppins Returns,” as a show, is less than the sum of its parts. But some of those parts are magnificent. First, there is the respectful homage to actors of a prior generation. Dick Van Dyke, who played Bert the Chimney Sweep in the original “Mary Poppins” (1964), returns in this film, even singing and dancing in a final scene, no small accomplishment at age 93. Karen Dotrice, the original Jane, has a brief cameo. Angela Lansbury, also 93, who had no association with the original film, is amazingly spry in her brief appearance as a strong-voiced Balloon Lady.

Emily Blunt, who showed off her musical theater chops as the Baker’s Wife in “Into the Woods” (2014), is luminous as Mary – the perfect blend of regal bearing, mischievousness and warmth. When Mary Poppins is in charge, this film is on strong footing. On the other hand, when Lin Manuel-Miranda (Jack the Lamplighter) is on the screen, the audience does not “look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now.” His efforts need considerably more work, work.

Director Rob Marshall previously has been quite effective in bringing Broadway musicals to the screen. “Chicago” won six Academy Awards in 2003, including Best Picture, the first musical since 1968 to win the top award. His versions of “Nine” (2009) and 2014’s “Into the Woods” also are worthy of note.

Here, Marshall receives another credit as one of three story writers. One wonders why, since the plot is almost incidental. Widower Michael Banks (Ben Whishaw, so excellent in Amazon Prime’s “A Very English Scandal” this year) has fallen on hard times. He and his family are about to be evicted from their ancestral home. If only the family can find their Certificate of Shares in the bank that holds their mortgage, all will be saved. Six-year-olds across the world have a clear sense of how this will all end. The show lurches happily along from one song opportunity to the next, sometimes with no plot development. One interesting quirk: this may be the only Disney film in history where the animated sequences are by far the least effective elements of the film.

The score by Marc Shaiman, with lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the team behind the excellent “Hairspray” (2007), is entirely serviceable. However, it suffers in comparison to the score of the original film. “Mary Poppins” offered a series of songs known by generations - “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Chim Chim Cheree” and “Let’s Go Fly a Kite.” In this film, the score is super-cali-fragil-never-mind. There are no soaring ballads here that you simply can’t get out of your head. In fact, given the non-existent plot, many seem entirely interchangeable.

If you need a diversion to minimize the time you have to spend during the holidays talking with family members you’ve avoided all year, this may be the show for you. Medical warning: do not take a spoonful of you-know-what before viewing. It would just be redundant.