Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
Don't be ashamed, be childish
Review
There are times when we long to be six again. In fact most days we long to be six again. No bills, no washing up, no hangovers. The joy of giggling on the floor until you can't breathe. And watching films that require so little concentration that you can completely zone out and switch that brain down to standby. Most children's films these days are so inane that even in our most immature moods we can't sit through them, but Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang made us smile, laugh and cry without requiring any input from our intelligence. Perfect.
The title is verging on false advertising, really, because there is no big bang of special note anywhere in the film. But it does include piglets doing synchronised swimming, a gassy jackdaw, a mischievous baby elephant and a cast that gets better and better with every new scene. Mrs. Green (Maggie Gyllenhall) is struggling with the many tasks of a single mother while her husband is away at war. When she gets lumbered with two extra kids things get out of control, which prompts Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) to make a surprise visit.
From an adult perspective, the plot is unexciting and predictable, but our interest was held throughout by the charming characters, delightful script and fantastic cameos from some of Britain's top actors. We just had to ignore the inevitable slapstick and try not to judge them for it. Highlights include Farmer Macreadie (Bill Bailey) explaining wistfully about pig Scrabble, Miss Turvey (Katy Brand) acting like a reject from the League of Gentlemen and Mrs Docherty (Maggie Smith) being continually and imaginatively senile. Maggie Gyllenhall does a remarkably convincing Emma Thompson impression as Mrs. Green, making us like her even more than we did to start with, and the children are all delightful, especially the vile but hilarious Cyril (Eros Vlahos).
Sure, it won't win awards, or serve as intellectual stimulation, but it will entertain kids, and most big kids, for just under two hours. Which, frankly, is a babysitter's dream. Nanny McPhee is the 21st century Mary Poppins but with less songs (possibly something they should rectify for the next sequel?) and more warts. She will no doubt be watched, loved and become Christmas tradition for British families up and down the country.
www.nannymcphee.co.uk
The title is verging on false advertising, really, because there is no big bang of special note anywhere in the film. But it does include piglets doing synchronised swimming, a gassy jackdaw, a mischievous baby elephant and a cast that gets better and better with every new scene. Mrs. Green (Maggie Gyllenhall) is struggling with the many tasks of a single mother while her husband is away at war. When she gets lumbered with two extra kids things get out of control, which prompts Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) to make a surprise visit.
From an adult perspective, the plot is unexciting and predictable, but our interest was held throughout by the charming characters, delightful script and fantastic cameos from some of Britain's top actors. We just had to ignore the inevitable slapstick and try not to judge them for it. Highlights include Farmer Macreadie (Bill Bailey) explaining wistfully about pig Scrabble, Miss Turvey (Katy Brand) acting like a reject from the League of Gentlemen and Mrs Docherty (Maggie Smith) being continually and imaginatively senile. Maggie Gyllenhall does a remarkably convincing Emma Thompson impression as Mrs. Green, making us like her even more than we did to start with, and the children are all delightful, especially the vile but hilarious Cyril (Eros Vlahos).
Sure, it won't win awards, or serve as intellectual stimulation, but it will entertain kids, and most big kids, for just under two hours. Which, frankly, is a babysitter's dream. Nanny McPhee is the 21st century Mary Poppins but with less songs (possibly something they should rectify for the next sequel?) and more warts. She will no doubt be watched, loved and become Christmas tradition for British families up and down the country.
www.nannymcphee.co.uk
