Nanny McPhee

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on May 16, 2006

Oh those British nannies, they will forever be immortalized for their ability to control the most bratty products from the world of bad parenting. They have long been focal points of some of the great family stories to ever hit the silver screen. Cut from the same mold of Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music comes Nanny McPhee, the tale of - you guessed it - a rotten bunch of children and the magical nanny that rescues them from an impending family catastrophe.

The children, a devious but adorable bunch, are led by young actor Thomas Sangster. You remember him, right? He was the young loverboy who stole the hearts of many in 2003’s Love Actually. Their story is a simple one. Their father, played by the cheeky and blissfully oblivious Colin Firth, is given an ultimatum by a wicked Aunt (Angela Lansbury) that he must find a replacement wife for the children’s deceased mother or she will cut off the allowance that keeps the family afloat and the children together. And from there you can probably guess the rest… While the father is off chasing the wrong options for a new bride, the children are working hard to scare off every nanny in the land. And just when things look like they are about to take a turn for the worse in swoops Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) to teach the children a little thing or two.

And of course between there and the happily ever after are strong doses of great moral messages, magic and a little bit of fun. Like every great family tale, the kids truly steal the show. From their devious beginnings to their sweet and lovable transformation into well behaved little Brits, these kids are enough to keep your heart warm and smile from ear to ear for the entire 97 minute run time of the film. Add some magical special effects, a performance from Emma Thompson that would make Julie Andrews stand and applaud, and timely comic relief of Colin Firth and you have truly enjoyable slice of family fun.

But of course the fun doesn’t end when the movie stops. This is a DVD, baby! And a good one at that. The disappointing trend of new releases being void of special features in lieu of a future release of the “Super Ultimate Edition” has thankfully been avoided in this case. The special features included provide a really fun look into the magical world of Nanny McPhee. As well, we learn the origins of the story and how Emma Thompson, who was great in the film, played such a huge role off screen as well.

So many of us have those movies, and you know what I am talking about, that we buy on DVD to save for our children and our grandchildren of the future. Films like The Lion King, Cinderella, and The Lady and the Tramp come to mind. And if you are like the rest of us and have that little list of DVD’s to own for future generations, make sure you add Nanny McPhee to that list. You can thank me later.

The Upside:
Genuinely fantastic family entertainment. A magical treat!
The Downside:
Not enough screen time for the very alluring Kelly Macdonald, who plays the naive but lovely housemaid Evangeline.
On the Side:
The story of Nanny McPhee was adapted from a series of children’s stories entitled Nurse Matilda by Christianna Brand.

Breaking Down the DVD:
The Film: B+
The Delivery: B
The Extras: A
Final Grade: A-

DVD Stats:
Release Date: May 9th, 2006
Starring: Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Kelly Macdonald, Thomas Sangster
Directed by: Kirk Jones
Writing Credits: Christianna Brand (books) Emma Thompson (screenplay)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
MPAA: Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some rude humor and brief language.
Country: USA / UK / France
Run Time: 97 min.
Studio: Universal (official site)
Watch the Trailer Here

Technorati Tags: Family, Entertainment, Nanny McPhee, British Nannies, Magic, Morality

Read more articles by Neil Miller