Review of Saving Mr. Banks (2013) by Tyler R — 05 Aug 2014

It's very simple, overly sentimental, but not a chore to sit through, which is a good thing. Saving Mr. Banks recounts the labor or love Walt Disney went through to get Mary Poppins on the big screen.

The film is told in an interesting way, tying in two narratives that compliment each other, with one unraveling as the primary carries on. It's an interesting take, but you can tell what's what by the time it's all laid out.

The performances aren't bad at all. Tom Hanks does the part well as Mr. Disney, actually showing more of the side most don't know or have seen. Emma Thompson plays the curmudgeon well, but at this point in her career, it's more of a been there, done that type of role.

The rest of the cast does well, holding up their end. The set design during both stories is very nice, and shows that Disney will do what it takes to make sure everything looks and feels like the time.

Overall, it isn't a bad film, mostly Disney product placement, but there are worse ways to pass the time.