Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang DVD
Starring: Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rhys Ifans, Maggie Smith
Director: Susanna White
Rating: 3/5
Back in 2006 Emma Thompson brought a brilliant new character to the big screen as Nanny McPhee was committed to bringing the best out of children and bringing families together.
'When you need her but don't want her then she stays. When you want her but no longer need her then she must go'. And this year Nanny McPhee is back for a rather inevitable sequel.
In the latest instalment, Nanny McPhee appears at the door of a harried young mother, Mrs. Isabel Green, who is trying to run the family farm while her husband is away at war.
But once she's arrived, Nanny McPhee discovers that Mrs. Green's children are fighting a war of their own against two spoiled city cousins who have just moved in and refuse to leave.
Relying on everything from a flying motorcycle and a statue that comes to life to a tree-climbing piglet and a baby elephant who turns up in the oddest places, Nanny McPhee uses her magic to teach her mischievous charges five new lessons.
Second time around and it's Susanna White, who has behind Generation Kill and Bleak House, in the director's chair as she helms her first feature length movie.
And what is so great about this movie is White treats her child audience with the up most respect as she presents a story where the young characters are well rounded as well as very complex.
The young cast a re superb as Norman, Megsie and Vincent battle, along with their mother, to keep their farm working as their father is away at war.
Norman shoulders the 'man of the house' label as he tries to help his mother earn money to keep the farm afloat. And while Cyril and Celia, the 'horrible cousins' have everything that they want in terms of material possessions all they really want is time with their parents.
These performances are supported by the central performance of Emma Thompson, who does take more of a back seat this time around, is charming as well as comical as she drives the Green family forward to a better future.
And while there are thrills and spills on the farm as well as laughs courtesy of Rhys Ifans, Bill Bailey and maggie Smith, all great pieces of casting, White and Thompson have produced a script that is not afraid to be emotional.
While the children get swept away with swimming pigs and flying motorcycles White is not afraid to touch on the difficulties of war and when families were left with parents, husbands and brothers.
She may touch on these subjects but White doesn't dwell and she had produced a fun movie that's great for all the family, and while it doesn't better the original everyone can kick back and enjoy the movie.
Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Emma Thompson