Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some rude humor and brief language
Directed by Kirk Jones (Waking Ned Devine)
Starring Colin Firth, Emma Thompson
Jonathan’s Score: Theatre Worthy
Mary Poppins would be proud.
Nanny McPhee isn’t the same ol’ thing. Emma Thompson stars as a governess who uses magic to help her bring out the best in seven mischievous children who have chased off every other nanny in the region.
Sure, the film’s premise might remind us a little bit of Mary Poppins or even The Sound of Music. But Nanny McPhee has a much different flavor.
At first I didn’t know what to think about Emma Thompson’s “McPhee” getup. If you’ve seen the previews, you’ve seen the warts, the tooth, the big black dress that rivals the size of a pup tent… but these attributes don’t “go” without reason. And Thompson delivers a top notch performance, warts and all.
I think the element I appreciated the most was the subtext that people aren’t always what they seem. Someone who might appear unwanted, even hideous, might turn out to be our best friend. The Nanny McPhee character grows on you as she grows on the children. Her character development is enveloped in her statement, “When you need me, but do not want me, then I will stay. When you want me, but do not need me, then I have to go.”
But Thompson wasn’t alone with a strong perfomance. Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury, Celia Imrie and Imelda Staunton are fantastic and will all make you laugh throughout the film.
I took my whole family to the screening to get everyone’s perspective. My kids were giggling and quoting lines after the film, and my wife liked it more than I did. (I was a little irritated in the beginning—the kids were pretty dang bad!)
Over all, it’s a great family film. A little bit of gross talk like “fart” and “poop.” And the hideous Mrs. Quickly shows you plenty of cleavage. But the film is tame compared to anything else in the theatre. Truly only PG. I didn’t regret bringing my kids at all.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
