Nanny McPhee Returns (2010)
"Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang" (original title)

Nanny McPhee arrives to help a harried young mother who is trying to run the family farm while her husband is away at war, though she uses her magic to teach the woman's children and their two spoiled cousins five new lessons.

Director:

Susanna White

Writers:

Emma Thompson, Christianna Brand (characters)

Stars:

Maggie Gyllenhaal, Oscar Steer, Emma Thompson

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Maggie Gyllenhaal	...	Isabel Green
Oscar Steer	...	Vincent Green
Asa Butterfield	...	Norman Green
Lil Woods	...	Megsie Green
Eros Vlahos	...	Cyril Gray
Rosie Taylor-Ritson	...	Celia Gray
Daniel Mays	...	Blenkinsop
Rhys Ifans	...	Phil Green
Maggie Smith	...	Mrs. Docherty
Sinead Matthews	...	Miss Topsey
Katy Brand	...	Miss Turvey
Emma Thompson	...	Nanny McPhee
Bill Bailey	...	Farmer Macreadie
Ewan McGregor	...	Rory Green
Sam Kelly	...	Mr. Docherty

Storyline

Nanny McPhee arrives to help a harried young mother who is trying to run the family farm while her husband is away at war, though she uses her magic to teach the woman's children and their two spoiled cousins five new lessons.

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Plot Keywords:

farm | magic | goat | critically acclaimed | pig | 

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Taglines:

You'll Believe That Pigs Can Fly!

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for rude humor, some language and mild thematic elements

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [jp] Universal [de]

Country:

UK France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 August 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nanny McPhee Returns

Filming Locations:

Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$8,407,685 (USA) (20 August 2010)

Gross:

$28,995,450 (USA) (22 October 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Relativity Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the problems with filming the scene with the piglets running away from the children, was that the little pigs really enjoyed being caught and cuddled so were very disinclined to run away.

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Goofs

Mr. Docherty wears the uniform of the Civil Defence Corps. This unit was formed in 1949, long after the WW2 setting for this film. With his white "W" helmet, he should have worn an ARP uniform.

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Quotes

Mrs. Docherty: You seem to have forgotten the way she works. When you need her but do not want her, then she must stay. When you want her, but no longer need her, then she has to go. I know from personal experience.

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Crazy Credits

Funny animation during end credits (first part).

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #18.102 (2010)

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Soundtracks

"The Best Things In Life Are Free"
(Lew Brown, Buddy G. DeSylva (as B.G. DeSylva), Ray Henderson)
Performed by Bing Crosby
Courtesy of EMI Records Ltd

User Reviews

Lots of fun

Emma Thompson once again pens and stars in the candy-coloured film adaptation of the children's' books by Christianna Brand, following a very strict and very ugly nanny who brings order and manners to a household full of naughty children. This outing sees the titular character nursing a farmhouse family whose father is off at war. The mother, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal is obliged the sell the land to her nasty brother (Rhys Ifans), a slimy character who will not rest till he gets his way. Meanwhile the children's' vile London cousins come to stay - two little brats who bawk at the state of the earthy farm abode.

Enter Nanny McPhee - an otherworldly being who appears when a family needs her most - squashed-nosed and snaggle-toothed, she calmly teaches the children five important lessons, though when things get out of hand she must employ the same supernatural technique of setting down her walking stick as she did in her previous adventure, and to spectacular effect. Nanny McPhee attempts to set the household to rights using these very methods, while the family struggle on with their visitors and hope against hope that their father will return.

Thanks to Emma Thompson's involvement, the film boasts a impressive array of British thespians including Maggie Smith, Ewan McGregor and Ralph Fiennes as a senior WW2 army officer. Though characterisation is hardly profound in a story such as this, each actor has their moment to shine - and Gyllenhaal, as the young mother, sports a flawless British accent and conveys her trademark maternal emotion when needs be. Production values are stellar, with all the period details on display. The film whisks along at a nice pace and never gets bogged down in one place - Thompson's adaptation is wrought with real warmth and wit, and once again she works wonders on-screen under layers of prosthetics, with every wry glance and raise of the eyebrow worthy of a laugh.

Setting the story of against the backdrop of World War II is very smart move - the 'big bang' in the title referring to the imminent threat of bombings during this time period. This gives the film a foundation of realism that the previous movie lacked....however, there's little room left for war time misery in the thematic threads of this story - you're more like to find a group of piglets doing synchronised swimming than any sign of a swastika.

Ultimately this is a family film, written for children - talking to them, not at them and carrying a very sensitive message at its heart. There are no double-entendres for the adults the snigger at, this is harmless entertainment at its best. It may not be a new classic but it's nice to see something like this making its way to our screens during the Easter break.