Friend Movie Review: Mary Poppins Returns

Welcome to the new and hopefully consistent "Monday Movie Review," which is really the normal Friends Movie Review now posted on Mondays. I have a number of reviews, especially Marvel Phase 2 and 3 movies waiting to be edited that I'd like to post before Endgame. So, the plan is to post weekly. We'll see how long this last.

The Jenn is visiting from NS! There has been great celebration, sightseeing, and happiness. Her first night we went to see the new Mary Poppins Returns. There could be movie spoilers ahead, you have been warned.

Impressions
The Jenn and I had the same reactions to the film. It was....something, while there are charming moments, even a few great parts, on the whole the movie missed the magic. It wasn't "practically perfect in every way." Yet we were both glad to see it just because we'd always have wondered if we hadn't.

Good
The Jenn: The moments of magic. They were few but when they happened they were good.
Liz: The two last cameos (Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury) were by far the greatest moments. I also enjoyed Lin-Manuel Miranda. I liked Georgie. And in every song there was something I liked.

Less Than Good
The Jenn: The songs were too long. Mary Poppins had moments of coldness that felt un-Mary Poppins like but the biggest issue was that it was a beat for beat a repeat of the original.
Liz: I am going to start with the music, yes, there was always something I liked about each song. It might have been a visual or a line; there was something good. However, the songs were all too long and so many words that nothing stood out. It wasn't instantly sing-a-long-able. And there were no stand out songs, to me, that caused me to want to by the soundtrack.

There was something with the Mary Poppins, as The Jenn said, at parts she was a perfect Poppins. At other times she just wasn't. It felt off. I can't decided where the fault is acting, directing, script, or editing. The stand out in this regard for me. There is a moment in the park were Mary Poppins looks in the balloon sees her reflect and says, "practically perfect." I can understand wanting to put such an icon line in this movie but the placement and use was wrong. It didn't fit and was off putting.

And my last complaint is a bit petty, there is a whole set-up romance with Mary Poppins bringing Jack and Jane Banks together. It culminates with them holding hands during a song. In the same sequence someone tells Jack to "not let go of that one" and Jack says he won't. A scene later the Banks family is in front of their house sans Jack. The next time we see Jack he's alone bicycling off into the sunset alone, telling the departed Mary Poppins he won't forget the magic. It's a great ending except why are they apart? And if they wanted that closing scene why was there such an emphasis through out the movie on setting these two up?

Favourite Scene:
The Jenn: The entire Dick Van Dyke scene from the dance to the kicking out of the villainous nephew.
Liz: I completely agree.

Rating:
The Jenn: 2.5 animated penguins out of 5
Liz: 2.5 flying kites out of 5