The one of a kind nanny returns to take care of the Bank children, all five of them. The 2018 film, directed by Rob Marshall, began with representing the 1930s in London. Set 25 years later than the original 1964 film, it continued to use colorful images and worthwhile adventures.

Michael Bank remains in his family home, 17 Cherry Tree Lane, as a widow with three children: John, Anabel, and Georgie, in the depression era. It seems that their time in the family home will be cut short as Michael has until Friday at midnight to repay the loan that he took out from the bank. There seems to be little hope as his sister, Jane, and him engage in a futile search in the attic for documents of their father’s bank shares.

At this time his children have gone to the store for some food with Georgie taking the grand kite that his father, Michael, used in the number “Let’s Go Fly A Kite.” The kite gets stuck onto Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) and is pulled down with the help of his siblings and Jack, a local lamplighter played by Lin-Manuel Miranda. They all return to the Bank household as Michael and Jane gasp in disbelief that Mary Poppins had returned. 

As soon as he arrives, the adventures began. Mary Poppins herself  said “here we go” in “Can You Imagine That?,” a fun filled bath time that allowed the children to see the nanny’s magical ways. There were memorable musical scenes that brought a new perspective yet retained the same enthusiasm and energy used in the original film of Mary Poppins with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. The parallel scene of jumping into the chalk painting by Bert with Mary, Bert, and the Bank children [in the 1964 film] to the visit inside the porcelain bowl with Mary, Jack, and the three children [in the 2018 film] were remarkable in having a similar scenario yet being unique. Similarly the “Trip A Little Light Fantastic” number was similar to “Chim Chimmny,” but of course depending on the film’s own setting. 

The all around work in the 2018 film made the film a success. The attention to detail from the hand drawn paintings to the vintage clothing promotes the era and helps transport the audience to the 1930s. Yet, the star cameos allowed the film to shed light with marvelous characters such as Meryl Streep playing Mary’s cousin Topsy, Angela Lansbury as the Balloon Lady, and Dick Van Dyke as Mr. Dawes Junior. Overall the film is a whirlwind filled with memorable adventures that transport you to another era.