Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang Review
Film: Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
Director: Susanna White
Starring: Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rhys Ifans, Maggie Smith, and Ralph Fiennes.
Plot: Nanny McPhee returns to the screen, this time helping a harried mother, Mrs Green, whose husband is away fighting in the war. Nanny McPhee uses her magic to teach Ms Green's three children and their two cousins visiting from the city five very important lessons.
Sheeeeeeeeeee's BA-ACK.
Yes, the world’s fourth favourite nanny, (behind Mary Poppins, Fraulein Maria and Super Nanny’s Jo Frost), is back again to transform terrible children into angels!
Well, not that all of the children in Nanny McPhee are really terrible. The Green children aren’t all that bad, really. They saved their sugar coupons to make their father some jam for when he comes home from the war. In my opinion, the Green children (Norman, Megsie and Vincent) are unfairly punished by Nanny McPhee. It’s the city duo, Celia and Cyril that need ‘whipping into shape.’ Anybody who turned down their nose at my house, made fun of me, and ruined my father’s special jam all within the first five minutes of meeting, would not be welcome. There really is no wonder that the Green children don’t like their cousins. If they weren’t so funny in their snobbishness, the audience wouldn’t like them either.
Performance wise, the kids are actually very good: Eros Vlahos and Rosie Taylor Ritson as city cousins Cyril and Celia fare best, particularly Vlahos who mastered the spoilt brat swagger. Oscar Steer as Mrs. Green's youngest son Vincent is simply too cute! Asa Butterfield (from The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas) is probably the weakest, but even he has his moments.
I also enjoyed the period detail of the film. In particular, Vincent and Cyril’s trip to the War Office in London was particularly well done. It was interesting to see the film makers approach their presentations of the war office from a child’s perspective.
Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang Official Site here.
Jessica · 738 weeks ago