A Practically Perfect Return

It feels like just yesterday when we were graced with the first look pictures from Mary Poppins Returns. I think everyone was split in how they felt towards this daring choice Disney made. Many believed this could be an amazing new story based off of a beloved classic, and others were skeptical or downright against it all. However, after seeing the movie I don't know how anyone can help but love it. The catchy music, the eye-catching costumes, and the incredible cast made it a huge success for Disney.

I think this could've gone wrong pretty easily because how can you bring Mary Poppins after all these years? Then I remembered, Mary Poppins arrives right when she's needed, and I believe we all needed her spoonful of sugar. She teaches us the most important messages in a way we can all understand and remember. She teaches the Banks children the importance of keeping our imagination alive, the value of family, and reminds us that nothing is lost forever, "simply out of place". I believe in the world we're facing today we need Mary Poppins and her memorable lessons, teaching us "anything is possible, even the impossible".

The Music

The Sherman Brothers created such original and iconic music for the original movie in 1964, and honestly, I didn't know what to expect from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. (I actually didn't even know who did the music until I wrote this review). They did create music that fit this new, classic story very well, and sprinkled throughout were the chords from the Sherman Brother's original score. There were moments when the old mixed with the new and it brought tears of nostalgia to my eyes. One of my favorites from the new movie is "A Cover is Not a Book" because of it's message and uniqueness. When I first heard it I wasn't crazy about it, it wasn't what I'm used to with Mary Poppins, but when I watched the movie the sequence made more sense. I love Lin Manuel Miranda's solo in it, Emily Blunt kills it with the vocals, and those coupled with the dancing and costumes make for an amazing number. The song teaches the children to not judge a book by its cover, to look deeper than the surface, because the "king may be crook".

The Costumes

I couldn't understand the costume on the Mary Poppins Barbie Doll at my local Disney Store. I could tell it was supposed the be this movie's equivalent to Jolly Holiday, but this dress had little to no detail, it was simply screen printed on the material. I wasn't too happy about it because it always feels wrong when Disney doesn't do detail. However, seeing the costume on the big screen put it all into perspective, and I came to learn that's how the dress is supposed to look (and that's all I'm saying- no spoilers). The costumes, in general, were perfect for the time period, colorful while still being authentic, and uniquely Mary Poppins. They made sure to keep Mary's much like the originals but more tuned to the era of the '30s. I came away with many ideas for future Disney Bounds.

The Cast

I loved Emily Blunt in Devil Wears Prada and even more in Into the Woods, I was extremely happy they chose her to fill the role for the iconic nanny. I feel like we're looking at a classic in the making. Though I love Lin Manuel Miranda in Hamilton I honestly could not picture him in the role of a British lamplighter, and I'm happy to say he surpassed all expectations! His acting and singing made quite an impression on the big screen and I couldn't imagine anyone else playing his role. The rest of the cast I didn't know very well but they were all amazing, and I can honestly say there wasn't a dud among them. I even enjoyed Meryl Streep and her topsy-turvy character. My favorite though was seeing Dick Van Dyke back on the screen dancing like the chimney sweep he'll always be in my eyes.

The storyline followed the same plot as the first one, Mary Poppins flying in to save the Bank's children, but it also held it's own unique view and made it fresh and new. I can't wait to watch this movie over and over again as I did with the original. I'm so happy Disney took the risk revisiting this iconic, historic and beloved character, the practically perfect Mary Poppins.

This adorable popcorn was available at our Cinemark for only $10! Make sure to grab yours when you see the movie!