Movies & TV

Movie Review: ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Shows You The Power Of Not Giving Up


Mary Poppins Returns

The beloved nanny, Mary Poppins, returns to charm us with her wit, adventures, and brings us a message of hope.

Mary Poppins Returns, directed by Rob Marshall (Into the Woods, Chicago), is a sequel to the original 1964 release, Mary Poppins, starring Julie Andrews. Though we do not get to see Julie back in this beloved role, the fabulous Emily Blunt takes on the task of bringing the charming nanny back to life. Mary Poppins Returns takes place about 25 years after the first film when Mary Poppins came to take care of the Banks children. Jane and Michael are all grown up now, and Michael has three children of his own: Anabel, John, and Georgie.

The Banks are having a hard year with the loss of Michael’s wife and the children’s mother. Money is tight, and the year just got worse as the bank threatens to repossess Michael’s childhood home where he and the children still live on 17 Cherry Tree Lane. All hope is not yet lost as one afternoon Georgie’s kite gets caught on Mary Poppins who returns to take care of the Banks children, Jane and Michael included.

Mary Poppins immediately begins to work her magic and charm on the family. Together, she and Michael’s children make plans to try to save their home. Through their adventures, and failed plans she shows the children how to find a new perspective in every situation, to not give up even when things look their worst, and that even when you lose everything, you still have your family and that’s enough.

Mary Poppins Returns
via: Disney

Here’s the Rundown:

Inspiring—This film deals with hardship and loss but brings a hopeful message of never giving up. It is filled with inspirational songs which carry the hopeful theme and drive the plot forward.  These songs remind you that when you’re lost in a fog, follow the light; when things are upside down, just flip yourself around and everything will be right-side up; if you ever lose your way, look up; and sometimes you need to remember what it’s like to be a child—to think like a child and to have hope like a child. Mary Poppins Returns channels all these themes throughout its 2h 11m run time and teaches us that there is always a different perspective and new way of looking at any situation, so don’t lose hope.

Creative—Just like the first film, Mary Poppins Returns is filled with adventures, twists and turns, and fantastical creativity. The imagery and sets are used in such creative ways to carry the themes. Mary brings the children to places never seen or imagined before. The absolute creativity of the sets and costume design make the Mary Poppin’s world so real that they bring these places into our imagination as well. It reminds you what it’s like to let your imagination just run wild and see where it takes you if you don’t let the impossible stop you. As Mary says, “Everything is possible, even the impossible.”

Mary Poppins Returns
via: Disney

Songs—The music is fantastic. Marc Shaiman (Hairspray) created a diverse soundtrack that drives the story forward. Each song is so different from the others and filled with a unique message that highlights a different aspect of the theme of hope. It is through the songs that the world of Mary Poppins is recreated, the adventures are taken, and the possibility of hope is seen.

Meryl Streep—Arguably the best role Meryl Streep has ever played. This character is so unique in the creative aspect see through a terrible event that happens to her every second Wednesday, and Meryl does so much to add to the role with quirks and eccentricity that makes this character such a hilarious individual.

Watch the official Mary Poppins Returns trailer here:



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