Mary Poppins Returns, based on the stories by PL Travers - Eight out of 10

Mary Poppins Returns, based on the stories by PL Travers

Eight out of 10

On many levels, this is an accomplished motion picture.

After all, it has been nominated for no less than four Oscars, albeit the Academy has often been wrong.

However, if we add Golden Globes, BAFTA and so many other respectable nominations and awards, then we arrive at the conclusion that this is well worth watching.

Unless, of course, you do not enjoy this kind of children fantasy movie, which for the undersigned seems similar to a cartoon…or an Avengers feature.

The acting is flawless and that is a sure thing, undebatable.

To what purpose?

Well, it could be argued that it is not for adults…even if again, if we look at how people who are of age vote – Trump, Salvini and the like – we could think that this film is too complicated for them anyway.

There is a tragic side to it all, apart from the dazzling choreography, the music, the flying and the charming Mary Poppins.

The Banks family are about to be evacuated, for they have not paid the mortgage to their house.

The contract stipulates that after a period, the bank would repossess the house and they have to abandon it.

Only they know that they have shares in the bank and they can present them and thus save the day.

The vicious Wilkins aka the Academy Award Winner – for the much more serious the King’s Speech – Colin Firth is the head of the bank ever since the kinder manager – aka Dustin Hoffman had retired.

The villain can check in the register and see that the family does have rights, but he denies them.

Cutting the page from the register annihilates any proof and therefore we have tension and conflict in the feature.

There is for most critics a wonderful alternation between dancing, music and the drama of the eviction unfolding.

Facing destitution and poverty is terrible, even when Michael Banks appears to be clam and in control.

We know that good will win in the end…there is no need for a spoiler alert here, is it?

Thus, it all depends on the old Milton statement:

‘The mind is its own place and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven’

Therefore, you either appreciate the film – The Telegraph rated it 100 out of 100, The Hollywood Reporter 90 out of 100, Chicago Sun-Times with 88 out of 100, USA Today 75 – or think it rather silly.

There is an old admiral with a cannon, firing it to let you know the time of day…