“Mary Poppins Returns” for Family Friendly Holiday Fun

No Nostalgia Here I’ve never seen the original Mary Poppins starring the legendary Julie Andrews. That’s right. Not once (clutch the pearls!). I’d seen bits of it whenever it was on TV, but was never intrigued enough by the White lady with an unusually strong umbrella to watch end-to-end. But I did know of Mary Poppins’ cultural influence, both with the 1964 film and the book series it was based on. Now 54 years after the original film adaptation comes Mary Poppins Returns, a flat but somewhat delightful sequel to a beloved film classic. Emily Blunt stars as the Mary Poppins, the British nanny with magical powers, good looks, and a heart of gold. The film takes place two or three decades later in the same universe as the original. Thankfully, Mary Poppins Returns cleanly calls back to the original in a way that’s authentic without being condescending or obvious for franchise newbies. The Blake children, Poppins’ young charges in the 1964 film, are now grown-ups with an entirely new set of problems for their returning “practically perfect” nanny to fix. Michael (Ben Whishaw) is a struggling artist and recent widower trying to make ends meet for his three young children. His sister Jane (Emily Mortimer) is a lively, fully independent labor union organizer and loving aunt to her brother’s children.

When Michael and Jane are notified that the Banks family home is on the verge of foreclosure after Michael gets behind on the mortgage, things become dire. With only a few days to fi…