Nanny McPhee Returns (PG, 2010)

common sense media says

Fantasy isn't as enchanting as original, but it's still fun.


parents & educators say
  • 70% say there are positive messages
  • 40% say there are positive role models

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this fantasy sequel is a great choice for families. The on-screen kids fight and misbehave a lot until Nanny McPhee disciplines them; ultimately, they learn important lessons about being helpful, selfless, and brave. Violence is limited to physical comedy gags like a bird that nearly explodes and two women who look harmless but are actually hit-women. One of the subplots involves a relative who's in the hole for so much money that he tries to bully his sister-in-law to sell her share of the farm.

Educational value: Through Nanny McPhee's lessons to the children, young viewers will learn the importance of working with others, following their instincts, and standing up for what they believe and the people they love.
Positive messages: Nanny McPhee's charges learn to work together, share, act courageously, be selfless, never lose faith, and love each other. It's a strongly positive message for all kids.
Positive role models: Although the two uncles aren't positive role models (nor are they intended to be), the women (save for the missing aunt) all are: Mrs. Green is patient, kind, and loving, always going out of her way to help Mrs. Docherty and please her children and niece and nephew. Nanny McPhee herself proves that beauty isn't dictated physically, but rather by what your character has to offer those around you.
Violence & scariness: Comic violence includes people getting swept up by a sudden gust of wind; a bird expanding and looking like he's about to burst (but he doesn't); kids pushing, shoving, and fighting with each other; and a man being told that he's going to be "stuffed" as penalty for not repaying a loan.
Sexy stuff: Two kisses between a married couple, and some comic flirting between the hit-women and their target.
Language: Very infrequent use of "hell" and "oh my God." Also, the cousins call each other names like "savages," " "awful," and the like. Other insults include "weak-willed," "cock and bull," "wicked," and "rotten."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Nanny McPhee Returns

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about what Nanny McPhee means by her rule that when kids want her but don't need her, she must go. How does it affect the family she's with?
  • How do the cousins impact each other? At first they're at each other's throats, but eventually they grow to work together and even love each other. What changes their relationship?
  • How does Nanny McPhee's specific sort of magic allow her subjects to figure out their own problems?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Isabel Green (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is desperately trying to juggle the demands of her war-deployed husband's farm, her three rambunctious-but-sweet kids, and the arrival of her posh niece and nephew from London. After a particularly awful day when the snooty cousins arrive at the farm, Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) appears in all of her snaggle-toothed, hairy-mole-sporting glory to provide Isabel some much-needed relief and teach the kids how to cooperate rather than annoy each other. Adding some dramatic tension to the story is the fact that while Mr. Green (Ewan McGregor) is at war, his brother Phil (Rhys Ifans) has wracked up an insurmountable gambling debt to a mysterious female loan shark and wants Isabel to sign away her share of the farm.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

The magic of the NANNY McPHEE tale is that it's completely derivative (in an endearing way!) of childhood favorites like Mary Poppins and Babe, with a little bit of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang thrown in for extra flying-vehicle fun. That said, because the story is so predictable, there's not much mystery as to how things will turn out, but kids won't care because they'll be too busy laughing at the flying and swimming piglets, the animal sleepover, and the kids hitting themselves comically until they stop fighting with each other. Thompson, who also wrote and produced the movie, is obviously comfortable in the governess role and working with children, and her scenes with the kids are amusing. Gyllenhaal -- whose accent is surprisingly pleasant -- is no Colin Firth, but she's lovely and sweet, and you can't help but cheer for her and her friend, the forgetful Mrs. Docherty (Maggie Smith).

Other aspects of the movie, however, fall flat -- like the window putty-eating bird, the sweet-but-creepy hit-women, and the annoying Uncle Phil (Ifans), who keeps popping up again and again. But there are a couple of fantastic cameos from men who are no doubt Thompson's friends (McGregor and Ralph Fiennes). Their mere presence in the movie is a delight, especially the great Fiennes as a stiff War Office VIP who's the stand-offish father to the London cousins. Speaking of the cousins, they're appropriately naughty at first and then adorably friendly with each other. The end is particularly sentimental, because there's a tie-in to the first film, leaving open the possibility that Nanny McPhee will strike yet again.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Susanna White
Cast: Emma Thompson, Ewan McGregor, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Maggie Smith
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 106 minutes
Theatrical release: August 20, 2010
DVD release: December 14, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: rude humor, some language and mild thematic elements
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This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
 
 

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What parents & educators say

8
Based on 20 parent & educator reviews:
  • 70% say there are positive messages
  • 40% say there are positive role models

Most useful reviews by all members

aamd13
kid, 11 years old
 
PG for a reason. saw the movie,here is some of the scenes from the movie...
im going to b explaining this: first scene: they show their (ugly) home and animals pooping on the farm and yelling and "get off the furniture because i want the house to look nice for our rich cousins" towards the next scene: all the items in a shop start talking and saying "THE PERSON YOU NEED IS NANNY McPHEE" and also before that part,there is more bratty rich cousins realizing when they step out of the car they will be stepping in animal poop...and the diva-like young daughter is FIGHTING to stay in the car. after her clothes are dropped and ruined, there is a scene shortly after they are in the house where the cousin (boy) gets 'dad's jam' which is a jar of jelly they took years\months to make and opens it when they say put it back and then slides it across the table and breaks it to pieces. they are then violently fighting in another scene where the mom can't individually handle the children herself so nanny mcPhee appears magically and greets the kids upstairs,(she greets the mom first). it may be a bit intense for young children whenever they are fighting when the camera people show a better view of it. nanny mcPhee then says,"stop fighting" and also a kid throws this paper thing in a fire. they don't listen SO SHE WHIPS OUT HER CANE AND BANGS IT!!! -it pauses everything,and a black bird can then get the paper thing out of the fire instead of making the kid do it (which is why she is upset at him). she also would make them fight themselves instead of fight others. she said she wouldnt make it stop unless they said they were sorry like they meant it. they then said they were sorry and she made it stop and she went downstairs and told the mom lesson 1,stop fighting,was complete. then they obeyed her when she said to go to bed. but they were having trouble with that and they were saying "ID RATHER SHARE WITH A GOAT" or "ID RATHER SHARE WITH AN ELEPHANT" so she magically makes a goat and elephant sleep with the kids who said that. they said that since they didnt want to share with someone else (human). one of the kids wouldnt have to share a bed. then in the morning,she blows a loud trumpet to wake them up and says "out of bed get dressed and downstairs for breakfast on the double"(right now). well whenever all the kids are downstairs except one cousin (the girl) they find her in the kids moms dress (not hers)she said it was the only nice thing for her to wear cause her other clothes got covered in poop. they were then telling her how she cant wear that and all. when they got to the farm, the piglets were gone. so they had to chase the piglets (my favorite part of the movie). nanny mcPhee used her magical cane to make the pigs "fly",climb trees,and swim in a fanciful way. yet they still didnt catch the pigs. so the cousin (boy)'s strategy was to use an important part of the dress she was wearing to catch the pigs. they showed the mom the pigs they had caught,but she was upset about what they had used to get the pigs. i cannot remember much more. PLEASE give this a "helped me decide" or "had useful details" :D P.S. i gave itage 9+ cause of the violence (pretty mild though).

imjh
adult
 
the greatest movie I"ve seen in years. besides the first one

stone_jerri@ya ...
parent of 1 and 5 year old
 
My list of complaints: 1. The "good" mother is weak, helpless, and easily duped. She's desperate for her husband to come take care of things again. Another mother is neglectful and materialistic. 2. One father is off fighting in a war. Another is neglectful, and calls his young son weak-minded. 3. An evil uncle with gambling debts tries to con his sister-in-law out of her farm by forging a telegram that says her husband was killed. 4. Nanny McPhee gets better looking as the kids learn to behave better. She's the only competent adult main character. I regret letting my son see this. The message he's likely to come away with is that you can't count on your family to take care of things, and that physical beauty and goodness are connected.

Aquiladog
parent of 7 and 10 year old
 
Predictable, delightful, fun. Children get to watch children struggle and overcome challenges and the magical parts are goofy and funny. It drags a bit in spots for the adults... but the children are happy throughout and at the end...so its a winner for the family.

puppylove22
kid, 11 years old
 
not sure it teens will like it im 10 i liked it
I have seen it before so has my 7 year old sister! and from my opnion i loved it! so i think kids 6 and up should see it. there is one bad guy but it gives the story a little taste if you know what i mean so yeah! :)

clevermom3
educator and parent of and 2 , 8 , 11 year old
 
This movie is fantastic!
This movie is great. It's called the sequel to Nanny McPhee but it's a completely different family. It's really a wonderful story and it's great for young kids. In the beginning it's kind of violent when the kids fight with each other, but it gets better from there.

Oregon mom
parent of 9 year old
 
We really enjoyed this movie. It follows the same predictable formula as the first: Lessons learned, warts disappearing, slap stick humor. However, that familiarity is comforting. The first movie was a bit edgy and slightly frightening. This one is pretty cute. Some parents will roll their eyes, but the kids will like it. It reminded me of a good old fashioned Disney movie. It isn't something that you need to see in the theatre. However, we felt is was something worth supporting. We want Hollywood to continue putting out this kind of family friendly movie, something without 3D effects or potty humor. Just clean fun. I took an 8 and 11 year old boys and they both enjoyed it.

PANDAZ SUCK
kid, 11 years old
 
PATHETIC
I think that this movie is pretty pathetic, A kid would NEVER be able to disfuse a bomb! and anyway, I think that if "Nanny mc Phee" Was real then she would simply be arrested for child abuse! [Ok maybe she would get her stick] But in a word Pathetic

Taran
kid, 10 years old
 
perfect for 4 and over
only a little sexy stuff

Movie Momma
parent of 9 and 11 year old
 
Spot on for 8-11 yrs old and perfect for a parent too
Thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Life lessons shown are fantastic. My boys enjoyed the rough and tumble yet compassionate children. Tugged at your heartstrings towards the end. Sweet and timeless story. I agree the 1st one was better told however this one gets right to the point and doesn't drag on. It's a good movie, plain and simple!

lalaXD
kid, 13 years old
 
I saw this with my little bro it was such a good movie and nanny mcphee is such a rolemodel for kids but she is a little scary looking but the movie was so cute and sweet!

dancing girl
kid, 12 years old
 
Very disappointing movie
1 a little funny thing in there. But overall it was just so boring. There should not have been a second one.

nightslayer900
kid, 11 years old
 
Not bad
it was a good film and nothing wrong with it but it just wasnt my type of genre it was kinda boring but it had positive messages and it was educational

nanny1
parent of 3 , and 4 , 7 , 9 , 12 year old
 
Perfect for the Whole Family!
It was by far better than the first movie! Great! We loved it!

Cityofbonesfan019
teen, 15 years old
 
Anyone who like the 1st must see this one!
I really did like this movie, but not as much as the original. Although each movie has its advantages... but each had beautiful endings

lititzmom
parent of 7 and 9 year old
 
A fun, family film
Terrific movie, great for family viewing. Provided some thought-provoking themes and ideas (launched discussions of WWII as well as divorce at that time). Nothing too scary or intense. Just a fun, uplifting movie.

lollypop12
teen, 14 years old
 
Fun family movie
I really liked this movie I saw the first one too and I also liked that one a lot. Because the first one was so good I thought the sencond one would be just a repeat of what the first on was. I ended up likeing the 2nd one better. You should see it.

Equestrian.Sam ...
teen, 13 years old
 
Great for the Whole Family
This is such a cute movie. Six year old and sixteen year olds alike will enjoy it. Also, Asa Butterfield's acting was stupendous. He did a great job.(: Highly recommend.

prince of ...
kid, 12 years old
 
ok and funny

estebang9
parent of 7 year old
 

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