Nanny McPhee DVD Review

"NANNY MCPHEE" reviews

DVD

NANNY MCPHEE

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-02-10 16:33:11

Provider

MRIB

DVD Review

In her first screenplay adaptation since the 1995 Oscar-winning Sense And Sensibility, Emma Thompson brings the little known 1960s books Nurse Matilda to life with charming results.

Nanny McPhee is the tale of seven unruly brats who have terrorised seventeen nannies in their time, leaving their bumbling widower dad Cedric Brown (Colin Firth) with a dilemma; should he remarry? Enter Nanny McPhee (Thompson) a hideous old hag with the appropriate magical powers to kick the kids into shape a la Mary Poppins (only without the songs and good looks). The film soon reveals a soul of its own thanks to an imaginative series of twists and a fantastic supporting cast including Angela Lansbury (reminiscent of Bedknobs and Broomsticks) and a superb Imelda Staunton as the barmy cook.

Obviously this is very much Thompson's show (although in all all that ugly make-up you'd be forgiven for mistaking her for Pete Postlethwaite), though at times her Nanny is so very hard-nosed it's hard for even adults, let alone kids, to cheer her magic on. The look and feel of the film are enchanting in an olde worlde sense, although some may find the script a little too whimsical and plain old-fashioned at times.

If you happen to have a party of Edwardian children in your company for an afternoon they may well enjoy whiling away the hours with a spinning top, or possibly this delightful children's film.

DVD bonus features include deleted scenes, gag reel, Casting The Children featurette, Building The House featurette, Nanny McPhee Makeover, various audio commentaries and much more.

Copyright © MRIB 2006.