It’s probably not the most hipster thing to say, but I love Disney. I love the cartoon shorts, the animated features, the live-action films (pre-1990′s) and the theme parks. There’s something magical about this stuff that I just can’t explain. I’m especially keen on Mary Poppins. What a great movie. I never really knew anything about what happened during the making of the film, so when I heard that a movie was being made that showed the troubles the production had, I was all for it.
Taking place in 1961, Emma Thompson plays the author of Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers, or Mrs. Travers, as she prefers to be addressed. For the past 20 years, Walt Disney performed by Tom Hanks, has been trying to get Mrs. Travers to sign the rights of her book over to him so he can turn it into a movie. However, the conservative British author doesn’t want her beloved book to be turned into a “silly cartoon.” Unfortunately, she has run out of money and desperately needs this deal with Disney to get back on her feet. Before she signs anything, she demands to work with the screenwriter and songwriters of the film so it can meet her approval.
Half of the film is about Mrs. Travers clashing with Disney and his collaborators over how the film will be presented. The other half is a flashback, which is integrated throughout the entire film, showing Mrs. Travers as a young girl and her relationship with her drunken father, played by Colin Farrell. This all gives great insight into what shaped her into the person she is.
The movie has great art direction, perfectly recreating Hollywood in the 60s, including old-time Disneyland. Being a film geek, it was a pure joy to see all of this come to life again. It was so cool seeing all the different Disney posters and memorabilia all around Mr. Disney’s office too.
The film is perfectly balanced with humor, sentimentality and some heavy thematic elements. Most of the humor comes from Mrs. Travers’ behavior towards her “collaborators.” Her reactions to what ended up being some of the most memorable things about Mary Poppins are laced with insight and humor. The flashbacks are the most serious parts of the film. I thought they really helped expand on Travers as a character. It helped me understand why she was the way she was. They are filmed with a slight dreamlike quality, which really worked.
Emma Thompson delivers her best performance in over a decade. She’s just wonderful as Mrs. Travers. She’s a stuffy British woman with no sense of humor. But of course, she does eventually warm up a bit. Thompson nails every note perfectly, as she transforms from a bitter old maid to a person with some real emotional trauma. She definitely deserves an Oscar nomination. Tom Hanks is fine as Walt Disney. It’s not an Oscar-worthy turn, but it doesn’t need to be. Hanks has the perfect amount of familiarity and charm that he ends up being a perfect Disney for this story. Colin Farrell is somewhat magical as that affectionate but irresponsible father full of love. Jason Schwartzman and B.J. Novak as the songwriters have some great moments together. Actually, there’s a lovely tender moment between Schwartzman and Hanks that made me feel all warm inside. Bradley Whitford as the screenwriter is good as is Paul Giamatti as Travers’ limo driver with a heart of gold.
The film is directed by John Lee Hancock, who made The Alamo and Blind Side. The direction doesn’t draw attention to itself, but it’s a smartly polished film. The screenplay, I’m sure, takes many liberties, especially with Mrs. Travers’ opinions on the final outcome of Mary Poppins. But, it’s a movie, and as a movie, it completely worked for me. The film also has a lovely score, which mixes in adaptations of Mary Poppins songs throughout.
It may not be historically accurate, but so what? It’s one of those old-fashioned, feel-good dramas that makes you feel all gooey inside. It’s a crowd-pleaser of a film that features an iconic performance from Emma Thompson. This is a perfect film to see with the family.
