...For me to side with Emma Thompson's grumpy, grouchy Mary Poppins author P.L Travers character for much of this movie? I HATE it when people are so in-your-face with excessive niceness that it becomes a huge irritant. At Disneyworld, that sort of annoying trait comes with the territory, so it was hugely refreshing to see her take these sappy cheeseballs down a peg or two with her snippy English sarcasm and unimpressed remarks.
Fortunately, unlike say, Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, she never loses her edge, even when she 'lightens up' at the end. It was good to see Tom Hanks playing Walt Disney as a character with noticeable flaws too... still a nice man who loves his studio but one who cares more about business than anything and GASP he smokes! Considering this movie is being distributed by his self-named studio, they could've quite easily whitewashed his character to be 'perfect', but they don't, so props there I guess.
While the movie embellishes some parts of P.L Travers life and even invents some scenes, it still feels true to who she was as a person until the end. You can see why she protected the rights to her book so closely, and what made her write it in the first place. Thompson and Hanks play off each other very well, and the feeling that you're actually there in the early 60's is as good as anything you'd see in Mad Men. It's just a great movie which will make you laugh and may even make you cry, and I thoroughly recommend it.
...And now I kind of wish P.L Travers had been alive to see the mess they made of Mary Poppins Returns. Sheesh. 8/10
Fortunately, unlike say, Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, she never loses her edge, even when she 'lightens up' at the end. It was good to see Tom Hanks playing Walt Disney as a character with noticeable flaws too... still a nice man who loves his studio but one who cares more about business than anything and GASP he smokes! Considering this movie is being distributed by his self-named studio, they could've quite easily whitewashed his character to be 'perfect', but they don't, so props there I guess.
While the movie embellishes some parts of P.L Travers life and even invents some scenes, it still feels true to who she was as a person until the end. You can see why she protected the rights to her book so closely, and what made her write it in the first place. Thompson and Hanks play off each other very well, and the feeling that you're actually there in the early 60's is as good as anything you'd see in Mad Men. It's just a great movie which will make you laugh and may even make you cry, and I thoroughly recommend it.
...And now I kind of wish P.L Travers had been alive to see the mess they made of Mary Poppins Returns. Sheesh. 8/10