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:

This Easter, 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

A real elephant had been cast for the film but unfortunately contracted a virus and died.

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Goofs

During the scene where the syrup is in the drawers in the shop, Isabel can be seen closing one of the drawers twice.

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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

After the credits finish, the baby elephant enjoys the Scratchomatic.

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Connections

Featured in Live from Studio Five: Episode #1.130 (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

Great film

I don't know what the critics here were expecting, but from some of the reviews I've read it seems that it wasn't a kids' film. In short, this is a lovely, well-written, beautifully cast film that's executed with great affection and makes maximum use of its chocolate-box locations.

Emma Thompson, aside from having no little talent for scriptwriting, is savvy enough to understand that the real stars of this film are the children and, in particular, Asa Butterfield and Eros Vlahos as Norman and Cyril respectively.

Rhys Ifans shows what an accomplished comic actor he is, even if his performance as Uncle Phil seems to draw much, both in characterisation and delivery, from that of Matt Dillon's portrayal of Healy in There's Something About Mary.

There's a lovely turn from Maggie Smith as Mrs Docherty and a reassuringly exuberant performance from Sam Kelly.

If there's a lull, it's when the action moves away from its countryside setting, although the scene played between Vlahos and Ralph Feinnes works nicely.

At a little under an hour and fifty minutes, it's quite long for children, yet my five- and eight-year-olds sat transfixed throughout. And in the end, that should be the yardstick by which any film aimed at younger cinema-goers should be measured.

As to Thompson herself, she is sublime when required, understated when the surrounding action demands. The reviewer who likened her performance to that of Roger Moore does not, I would suggest, appreciate either the characterisation of the Nanny McPhee role (much can be, and is, portrayed by simple facial expressions) or the very real acting ability of our erstwhile Bond. Comedy isn't all about snappy one-liners and the ability to convey comedy simply by saying nothing is an art in and of itself.

In the final analysis, this is a better film than its predecessor. It is more lovingly-crafted, less fantastic in the literal sense and more sharply observed. Watch it for what it is - a modern take on the old Mary Poppins story - and you won't be disappointed.