Mary Poppins Returns

Mary Poppins practically pleased everyone but its original creator, PL Travers. So it was quite a surprise that an actual film sequel was greenlit in 2016. But it's here. In the appropriately titled Mary Poppins Returns, Emily Blunt takes up the role that won Julie Andrews an Oscar.

Jane (Emily Mortimer) and Michael Banks (Ben Whishaw) had whimsical adventures with Mary Poppins as kids. But they have real-world problems as adults in 1936. Michael's wife is dead and he has three kids to raise. The Bank will repossess his house unless he gets the money in five days. A shares certificate left behind by the late Mr. Banks might save them. Meanwhile, youngest Banks kid Georgie Banks (Joel Dawson) goes kite-flying and pulls down Mary herself.

Mary takes the new Banks kids on whimsical adventures. A cockney lamplighter, Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), joins them. The kids' adventures brighten up their day. But Michael has no time for "stuff and nonsense" as mean Bank Chief Mr. Wilkins (Colin Firth) breathes down his neck. The kids might have what Michael needs.

That's pretty much it.

Director Rob Marshall and his crew match the aesthetics of the 1964 film. The London of 1936 hasn't aged much since 1911. Even old Admiral Boom's (David Warner) deck roof is familiar. Of course, there are some modern technologies involved. The animated world inside a ceramic bowl is still hand-drawn, but it isn't ink-and-paint. Mary and company's costumes for this sequence, designed by Sandy Powell, perfectly match the painted world. Marc Shaiman's score and the songs he wrote with Scott Wittman are as bouncy and emotional as the Sherman Brothers' famous music.

The screen story was conceived by Marshall, John DeLuca and the screenplay's author, David Magee. The film hits a lot of the same beats as the original film. A few of them, including a visit to Mary's upside down cousin Topsy (Meryl Streep), come from Travers's stories. The MacGuffin's location is supposed to be a surprise but it's so obvious. What makes it work? Its story of families sticking together during crisis is relevant. Its resolution was great even if it relied on a silly deus-ex-machina.

The cast is practically perfect. Emily Blunt's Mary Poppins is a practically perfect mix of dry wit, vanity and warmness. Lin Manuel-Miranda's Jack is a fun character. Whishaw is good as Michael Banks. His on-screen children are a good bunch. Streep as Cousin Topsy is entertaining for her exaggerated accent. Angela Lansburry has a noteworthy cameo as a Balloon lady near the end. Dick Van Dyke even appears as Mr. Dawes Jr, fifty-four years after he played Mr. Dawes Sr. (and Bert).

Speaking of alumni, look for a cameo by Karen Dotrice, the original Jane Banks, asking for directions.

Mary Poppins Returns is a fine sequel. It's overly-familiar but it's not too familiar. It's an optimistic story full of whimsy and humor. It makes the most of its 130 minute runtime. The finale is worthy of the big screen. So see it before Mary goes off with the wind.