Nanny McPhee is an ugly Mary Poppins indeed. A pack of rotten kids, a sad widowed father, an uneducated maid and nanny with instead a bag of tricks a cane that kicks. Adapted by Emma Thompson from the “Nurse Matilda” books, Nanny McPhee is a story with morals, lessons and love. A magical happy ending for both kids and parents alike.
Nanny McPhee
4 Stars
Nanny McPhee is an ugly Mary Poppins indeed. A pack of rotten kids, a sad widowed father, an uneducated maid and nanny with instead a bag of tricks a cane that kicks. Adapted by Emma Thompson from the “Nurse Matilda” books, Nanny McPhee is a story with morals, lessons and love. A magical happy ending for both kids and parents alike.
 |
With the passing of their mother the Brown kids are lashing out for attention the only way they know how, by ill behavior and bad manors. Running the last nanny in town off in less than 2 days, Mr. Brown (Colin Firth), their father is desperate for help. Nanny McPhee is the person you need, he hears in the breeze. Knock! Knock! At the door on a dark stormy night and there she stood in all her moley glory, Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson). She goes to work right away; starting with lesson one, go to bed when you are told. She has a special way about her, less than a force more like a push with a knock of her cane. She has but 5 lessons to teach and as soon as the kids have accomplished all 5, she must be on her way. (Marry Poppins anybody?)
A little magic and stern compassion Nanny McPhee whips the kids into shape and helps, in her own way, Mr. Brown with his looming engagement. He must get married within a month or the evil Aunt Adelaide (Angela Lansbury) will cut off his allowance. If he looses his aunt’s financial support the kids must separate and the older children would go to sweat shops and the younger to foster care or an orphanage. This he could not allow, so he attempts to marry a very colorful character, whose husband he had buried the year before. The children do not like her and she them, so they become their evil little selves for one day and get rid of her and turn their father around. Nanny McPhee throws in one last cane thrashing of hope, the love lorne maid, Evangeline (Kelly Macdonald) appears as an angel to save the family and marry the father.
Nanny McPhee is a happy little story with charming children, dashingly handsome father and one ugly nanny that will entertain kids of all ages. Nanny McPhee is a fitting family fairy tale ending film