Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (in the USA & Canada released under the title "Nanny McPhee Returns", I wonder why, is the original British title somehow religiously offensive?) is the 2010 sequel to the 2005 family/children film "Nanny McPhee".
The movies were adapted into screenplays by Emma Thompson and are based on Christianna Brand's "Nurse Matilda" books from the 60s. They were directed by Susanna White.
Isabel Green (played by the wonderful Maggie Gyllenhaal) lives with her children on a farm in England during the second world war. While her husband is at war she has to keep the farm running, work her job in a village job (alongside the slightly mad Mrs. Docherty) and take care of her three children Norman (Asa Butterfield), Megsie (Lil Woods) and Vincent (Oscar Steer).
When her sister's spoilt rich children Cyril (Eros Vlahos) and Celia (Rosie Taylor-Ritson) are sent to the farm to live with them, and all children start fighting Isabel doesn't know what to do anymore.
This is where Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) is coming into play.
After a bang of her stick, the children soon realize that they cannot go on fighting, and eventually learn to tolerate each other.
Isabel's brother-in-law Phil (Rhys Ifans) desperately tries to make Isabel sell the farm, using many mean ways to make her do so. One including convincing her that her husband is dead. The children now try everything to prove it isn't so. Obviously they succeed, or this wouldn't be a very good "family" film at all. At least not one in the way you expect it to be.
The story is very predictable and old-fashioned but overall it's well-executed.
The actors are wonderful, from the main actors down to great appearances of Ewan McGregor, Billy Bailey and Sinead Matthews (not as well known as the former two but she should be! She plays the wonderful kooky Jenny on British comedy-drama-tv show "Ideal", my favourite tv show that airs, by the way).
The setting and clothes are very well-done, as well. There are some nice touches like Nanny McPhee's putty eating bird Mr. Edelweiss, or the Germans dropping a bomb by accident due to sneezing three times.
In regards to the test: it's passed easily here. Both of the girls have strong personalities, and of course Nanny McPhee herself talks to all the women in the movie.
There are also some rather interesting empowering moments. When the kids have to dismantle a bomb it is the girl Megsie who succeeds in doing so.
However, there are several things about that movie that irk me very much.
I can't put my finger on it, but there is something weird about the way the military and the war is portrayed. Of course that is a challenge to portray in a kids movie that is overall very carefree and quirky, but it felt just a bit too much trivialized to me. However, I can see how that would be problematic not to do in a movie with such a light tone set in the second world war.
The thing that I found really irritating was something else, though:
In addition to emphasizing discipline and manners (which I already find a bit questionable as a moral to children, to be honest) Nanny McPhee has five lessons to teach, each of which correspond to her various unattractive physical attributes: gray hair, two large moles, a unibrow, and a snaggle-tooth making her look like a stereotypical witch.
In addition to emphasizing discipline and manners (which I already find a bit questionable as a moral to children, to be honest) Nanny McPhee has five lessons to teach, each of which correspond to her various unattractive physical attributes: gray hair, two large moles, a unibrow, and a snaggle-tooth making her look like a stereotypical witch.
When all five lessons are learned, Nanny McPhee transforms from ugly to beautiful.
Now what exactly is that supposed to teach kids? That being "good" and disciplined is somehow directly connected to beauty? That by cleaning your room regularly and being friendly to people you can't stand, superficial attractiveness to other people can be achieved? I find that a very questionable and confusing message to send out to young kids.
- Lesson #1: To stop fighting - Upper wart disappears.
- Lesson #2: To share - Lower wart disappears.
- Lesson #3: To work together - Unibrow disappears
- Lesson #4: To be brave - Hair goes from gray to brown.
- Lesson #5: To have faith - Snaggle tooth disappears.
Now what exactly is that supposed to teach kids? That being "good" and disciplined is somehow directly connected to beauty? That by cleaning your room regularly and being friendly to people you can't stand, superficial attractiveness to other people can be achieved? I find that a very questionable and confusing message to send out to young kids.
Still I wouldn't over interpretate it. It's just very unnecessary, the whole plot would have worked just fine without it.
Verdict: Pass & Undecided
No comments:
Post a Comment