Mary Poppins is practically perfect in every way, so making a sequel could have been a disaster.
Luckily, the return of the magical nanny (Blunt) feels like a visit from an old friend. And once you move on from the fact that you won’t be hearing any of your favourite tunes from the original, it is a delightful film full of heart and whimsy.
Years after the first movie took place, young Jane (Mortimer) and Michael Banks (Whishaw) are all grown up. Michael lives with his three children in the house on Cherry Tree Lane, but their lives are thrown in turmoil when he faces losing the home the family loves so dearly.
With times looking dark for the Banks family, Mary returns to look after Michael’s children. Mary Poppins Returns is remarkably similar to the original. Instead of Dick Van Dyke’s charming chimney sweep – although watch out for a cameo from the veteran actor – there’s lovable lamplighter Jack (Miranda); instead of jumping into the footpath, the family jump into a porcelain vase; instead of an uncle who floats, there’s a cousin whose house turns upside down.
While these nods are sweet, they lack some of the first film’s magic. Mary Poppins Returns is, however, sure to delight a new generation of children who have never heard of Julie Andrews. 
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