A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

The Evaluation System Reviews by Title Reviews by Date

Reviews from Video Reviews of the Classics Personal Background

Title: Nanny McPhee

Date Viewed: 1/28/06

Details:

Emma Thompson

Colin Firth

Kelly Macdonald

Celia Imrie

Sir Derek Jacobi

Angela Lansbury

Thomas Sangster

Director: Kirk Jones

Screenplay by: Emma Thompson

Score: +

The Review: Nestled somewhere in between a fantasy, fairy tale, and children's revenge fare, this is not your parents' Mary Poppins. Modeled on the English children's fantasy series (dating back to the 1940's) of Nurse Matilda written by Christianna Brand, with the screenplay adaptation by the titular actress, Emma Thompson. Being unfamiliar with the original stories, it's not clear how faithful the movie is, but it doesn't matter -- it's enjoyable in its own right.

Alia iacta est -- and when the Brown children appear to have run off the last available nanny, their father (Firth) sets upon a disgruntling search for a replacement, only to be haunted by a persistent advertisement. As if by magic (hmmm...), the mysterious Nanny McPhee (Thompson) appears on their doorstep, with dramatic effect. Nanny is alternately mundane and magical, strict and subtly subversive, warm and wry, and absolutely anatomically annoying. When you see how she shapes behavior, encourages independent thought and sets the kids on a path to accept the consequences of their actions, you'll wonder how you managed to avoid the same lessons so long.

Firth is perhaps the weakest link in casting, stumbling through a befuddled parental role that would have been more enjoyable if done less clueless and with more good humor. Obviously Thompson is the movie's focal point, a strong role with some quirky traits -- including a bizarre and unique variety of shape-shifting. The kids are either manic or confused, and only the oldest (Sangster) seems at all drawn out. But the peripheral roles are curiously well done, even if over the top, with Sir Derek and Angela Lansbury in sycophantic and overbearing roles, respectively.

(1-Feb-06)

Back to the chronological list of reviews