“Mary Poppins Returns” Is Practically Perfect
Everyone’s favorite umbrella-toting magical nanny reappeared in theaters on Wednesday, December 19 with the opening of “Mary Poppins Returns.” Earning $4.8 million on its first day, the Disney sequel’s domestic earnings are estimated to exceed $100 million by Christmas day.
Taking place two decades after the 1964 original that starred Julie Andrews, this sequel brings us back to the Banks home where the now grown Banks children are dealing with adult troubles of their own: widowed Michael is struggling to raise three children – even with the help of his sister Jane – while facing possible foreclosure on his ancestral Cherry Tree Lane home. Luckily for them, Mary Poppins – this time played by the delightful Emily Blunt – comes down from the sky once again to help bring order into their lives.
“An industrial-strength sugarplum with compensations from Emily Blunt and Lin-Manual Miranda, whose performing magic can leave you feeling deliriously happy.” Rolling Stone
Blunt is receiving rave reviews for her new take on the prim and proper magical nanny. “Emily Blunt, so often the best thing in everything she touches, is a wonder in this role,” NPR reported. “She has a sly, confident charm, just right for a character who exists only to improve the lives of others and then move along… This is a distinct take on a character who is so unusual and so unforgettable.”
“Big-hearted spectacle for everyone.” ScreenDaily
The sequel introduces some new characters, including a lamplighter named Jack (played by Lin-Manuel Miranda) and Mary’s quirky cousin Topsy (Meryl Streep), and features a dancing cameo by 93-year-old Dick Van Dyke who famously portrayed Bert in the original.
Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and nominated for four Golden Globe awards, this is one film you don’t want to miss this holiday season. Catch “Mary Poppins Returns” in theaters now and available from Swank this spring.