I love this movie. It has a really good ending and the message is awesome. The only concern is a few occasional curses, but only few throughout the whole movie. Really cool!
Nanny McPhee
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Charming adaption of kids' books. Good family fun.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 8 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Nanny McPhee was written by Cynthia Fuchs
Parents need to know that this movie opens on a family of seven children who take pride in harassing and scaring nannies hired by their father. The kids are abusive in Home Alone-ish ways, pulling violent and sometimes disgusting pranks on adults who are supposed to look after them. Their efforts to thwart their father's marriage to a tarty (and cleavage-revealing) widow include the use of reptiles, insects, and slimy substances. The instructive nanny looks like a traditional witch, arrives on a stormy night, and uses a magical cane. Some kids may be disturbed by the death of the children's mother (not shown). The father works in a mortuary, and we see shots of dead bodies.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about the children's evolving attitude toward their father: how do they come to see themselves supporting him rather than challenging all adults all the time? How does Nanny McPhee's specific sort of magic allow her subjects to figure out their own problems? And how does the father's bumbling lead to the children's taking more responsibility, for each other and him?
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More on Nanny McPhee
What’s the Story?
Widowed father, Mr. Brown (Colin Firth) is at his wit's end as the film begins, as his seven kids have just run off their 17th nanny. Just in time, warty, snaggle-toothed, bulbous-nosed Nanny McPhee arrives on a dark night and promises to set the household aright. She expects the children, especially chief schemer Simon (Thomas Sangster), to live up to her expectations: they can be kids -- rambunctious, energetic, and silly -- but they must also respect others, including adults. Or, at least, those adults who do not appear foolish outright, like garish local widow Selma Quickly (Celia Imrie). When Mr. Brown's Great Aunt Adelaide (Angela Lansbury) insists he marry by the end of the month or lose her monthly checks, the children plot to chase off the widow, not thinking through the long-term effects. Nanny McPhee lets them and their father learn lessons the hard way, allowing Mr. Brown to figure out how he feels about his pretty housemaid Evangeline (Kelly Macdonald) on his own.
Is It Any Good?
Thompson, who adapted Sense and Sensibility for the screen in 1995, has devised a wonderful script based on Christianna Brand's Nurse Matilda books, wherein kids and nanny face off without condescending to one another. If some of the movie's effects are distractingly shoddy (see: the unconvincing dancing donkey), the kids (especially Sangster) are first-rate, and Thompson rather divine.
Nanny McPhee tells Mr. Brown she can manage the kids while maintaining her independence and dignity: "When you need me, but do not want me, I will stay," she says, "When you want me but do not need me, I will go." Nanny's lessons -- instilled through judicious use of a magic cane and wry common sense -- include respect, loyalty, and generosity.
Movie Details
Studio: Universal Pictures, Director: Kirk Jones
Run time: 97 minutes
Theatrical release: 01/27/2006, DVD release: 05/09/2006
MPAA Rating: PG for mild thematic elements, some rude humor and brief language.
Run time: 97 minutes
Theatrical release: 01/27/2006, DVD release: 05/09/2006
MPAA Rating: PG for mild thematic elements, some rude humor and brief language.
Our Members Say
See all 30 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
Fun Movie with Good Ending and Message!
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I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it
great film
great film
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My highlights are:
8 AND UP
Great movie... very naughty children learn how to behave well... and a nice warm story with soft ups and downs and lots of funny moments... no drinking no smoking... i don't remember any rude language... about sexuality well, there's a scene when the kids put an insect on a women's hair (she's willing to marry their dad) he throws himself at her and the girl says not so fast... its repeated i guess another time with the tea... and when he proposes to marry her the woman says to the children daddy needs to have some time with ur new mother and she closes the door... these things are not to worry about could be explained differently to children it could be explained like he looked like he attacked her and ruined everything and she did close the door so that she wanted to talk privately to their father... my sister was 9 years old when she watched it and she didn't notice a thing at all... its funny and a cool movie for kids this age they'll like it + its highly educative.. and i remember there's a kiss at the end when they get married :) ENJOY THE MOVIE
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I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
Spoiled by crude innuendo!
I was shocked by the 'crude suggestions' and innuendo which the film contained! I think it completely spoiled an otherwise innocent and fun story. I can't believe I'm the only person to object to it. I have never enjoyed crude 'carry-on film' type humour, I dont' think it's appropriate for children and this is where I find fault with Nanny McPhee.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Loved it!!!
My husband and I were in London in October whent this film was released there - we wish we'd have seen it then but instead had to wait until it was released here in the states several months later! We love this movie and I think Emma Thompson is wonderful (as usual) as are the children and all the rest of the supporting cast! I highly recommend it!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
it is a good movie for all ages!!!!!!
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I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
This movie could have been better!
I was very dissapointed in this movie. They could have done a much better job developing the charcters and had a much stronger movie. I did not enjoy this movie. Kids thought it was ok.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
I LOVED it!
this was an amazing movie. it was sweet, happy, funny, and it wass great. i thought it would be bad but it was amazing!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Great Movie!
This movie was great. I took my 7 year old daughter and we both really-really enjoyed it! A must see!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Wonderful
Nanny McPhee is wonderfully refreshing. I loved it and so did my 13 year old daughter. There was even applause at the end. I thought Nanny McPhee's appearance reflected the ugliness and the beauty in those around her. Outstanding...definitely a good one to take children to see. They will see the good and the bad and which is the better for it.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
A great movie
My family and I went to see this movie. My son, who is 4, thought that is was great and so did we. If you don't mind potty humor, this is the movie for you.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
An engaging movie-going experience
Nothing to do on a Saturday? This was a wonderful little surprise. My 6 year old loved it; she was hooked after the first scene. The child actors are great. There is a sincerity to the movie that is refreshing. When Simon asks Nanny if she's on their side, it's endearing. My 3.5 year old couldn't sit still, though, there just wasn't enough for him. The potty humor scene is quite funny (the children are trying to introduce themselves because they think Nanny won't know their names.) It happens pretty early on and my daughter forgot about it by the time the movie was over. Potty humor with a British accent is just a little less offensive? It's just a sweet little story played by good actors and produced in a colorful, vivid manner that captures attention. The kids are terribly naughty, but they are not antisocial at all. In fact they do apologize to a victim for their antics once they learn dad's motives. So,take the kids and enjoy this sweet movie.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
It was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That movie was the best movie ever invented! My sister said it was great! My mom and dad loved it! I want to see it again!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is like the boringest movie ever made! Sure if your a little kid u may like it, but I on the otherhand like action and Funny comedies, which does not at all describe Nanny McPhee! For some reason my 15 year old sister liked it, but all the other people my age said it was "Pointless and the dad had a voice which was highly obnoxious!" If u want a good movie see Big Mommas House 2 that was funny!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Iffy for under five
I took my six yr old and five yr old. the six yo loves TV and movies, and did wonderfuly her first time in a theatre when she watched "Finding Nemo" when she was three. This was our first attempt back because I finally felt the five yo was old enough. I was wrong. She was scarrd by the begining and had trouble following the film. Our next attempt will be an animated feature, not live action. Emma Thompson is great. I would have liked to see the father "learn more" about bonding with his children, but you can only do so much in a short time. I had trouble with the sexual over tones of the widow's tea, but the kids were distracted by all the things the films children did. I liked that not all step moms are ugly and evil. And I loved the way Nanny becomes more attractive the longer you know her and learn to accept her.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
A delightful fairy tale for all ages
Delightful performances all around, from the kids on up. Special kudos to Emma Thompson (of course!), and charming-as-always Colin Firth, and the ever-amazing Angela Lansbury. We'll be seeing it again!!
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Nanny McGREAT!!!
This was a wonderful exciting movie. It was a little bit to much with the sexual encounterment in the tea scence, but it was a wonderful movie. I would not recomend it for boys though. It is more of a older kids movie because it has some crude jokes.!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
i laughed
This was a sweet movie my kids loved it.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
I want to watch it again!
If you are expecting Mary Poppins, you will be very pleasantly disappointed! It's a heartwarming, funny, somewhat sad tale with what you think might be a predictable ending...or is it??? 2 Thumbs Up here!!
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Ratings at a Glance
| 33% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 33% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
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