Review of Mary Poppins Returns (2018) by Kay J — 02 Jan 2019

Many reviews appear to be centered on the idea that Mary Poppins Returns is a reboot, rather than a continuation based on the other books in the Mary Poppins series by author P. L. Travers. However, this is most certainly not a rewrite or retake of the original Mary Poppins flick, which was itself a mismatch of more than one of the books by Travers.

The issues with the movie are down to a lack of coherency in the direction rather than the script or the musical performances. Mary Poppins was created as a musical, and Mary Poppins Returns is no different. The main difference in the quality of the two when compared with each other, is the direction. In the first Mary Poppins film, it was directed in the manner of a Hollywood movie. Mary Poppins Returns appears to be directed as if it is a stage show, with classic Hollywood production value.

The production quality of Mary Poppins Returns makes it a visual tour-de-force. The lighting, color palate, and costumery are woven into a stunning presentation second to none in the current holiday box office run.

Emily Blunt simply shines as the Practically Perfect Poppins, and clearly did not seek to imitate Julie Andrews portrayal, while Lin-Manuel Miranda also shone in his role of Jack. The two had good chemistry throughout and their voices could not have complimented each other any better. The only change I would have liked to see as far as their performances are concerned, would be that the character Jack should have overly-accentuated the bad cockney accent as Dick Van Doik had done in the first Mary Poppins movie.

Speaking of Dick Van Dyke, it was an absolute pleasure to see him reprise his role from the first film. He has said that when he was on set he very much felt the spirit of the first film, so the myriad of professional critics claiming that their childhood has been somehow sullied by the "reboot" that's actually simply a sequel, should remove their fingers from their keyboards and log-off since the most qualified person in the room, Van Dyke himself, closed that door.

There have been concerns made regarding the "Trip a Little Light Fantastic" and LSD/Timothy Leary connection, which is pure fiction. Tripping the light fantastic was a turn-of-last-century phrase referring to dancing on stage, and as early as 1908 it was already considered passe'. In addition to this, "leerie" was a word of Scots origin in the 1800's and meant the pole used to light a gas lamp; something many a reviewer failed to discover. Leeries was a term subsequently used for those who's job entailed lighting and snuffing gas street lights while also performing their duty as watchmen.

Mary Poppins Returns is entertaining, the main characters of Poppins and Jack entertaining, the hand-drawn animation sequences lucious and vibrant, and the attention to production second to none.

The only criticism should be levied toward the direction. What could have been a thoroughly seamless film, was hampered by a poor Director. Even with this being said, the flaws are not fatal, but they do hamper Mary Poppins Returns from achieving the same greatness as the first. Sequels are notoriously likely to never as good as the first, but there was a real possibility here that was squandered by the Director.