Mary Poppins
- Review Date: September 19, 2005
- Rated: G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Release Year: 1964
- Running Time: 140 minutes
Common Sense Media says
World's coolest nanny celebrates family and fun.
- Review Date: September 19, 2005
- Rated: G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Release Year: 1964
- Running Time: 140 minutes
What parents need to know
Educational value
Positive role models
Violence & scariness
Sexy stuff
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that though the pace is rollicking and sometimes chaotic, there are no dangerous or dark elements in this movie. Melodic music, fancy dancing, and cartoon segments will engage even the youngest viewers.
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Kids say
What's the story?
In 1910 Britain, a British family seeks a new nanny for young Jane and Michael. In flies magical Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews, in an Oscar-winning performance), not at all what proper Mr. Banks was looking for, but precisely what the children ordered! Mary takes control and takes the children on glorious adventures. The kids also frolic with Bert (Dick Van Dyke), a one-man-band, sidewalk artists, and chimney sweep. Wonderful singing, dancing, and animation bring the story to life as somehow this unusual nanny helps Mr. Banks show love to his children, and the whole family appreciate each other all the more.
Is it any good?
QUALITY
Rarely does a movie manage to be so much fun while delivering a simple, heartwarming story. While songs in today's Disney's musicals, though sometimes good, only serve to explain the characters' emotions or intentions, the best songs in Mary Poppins use the feelings of the characters as starting points from which to take off and explore, often in wildly whimsical directions.
The story follows suit, using small plot events to take viewers to many unexpected places. The end result is one of the all-time great family movies.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about if they get too busy sometimes to "go fly a kite." Why is it important to spend time together? What's your favorite kind of laugh? And can you make up your own very long, silly word?
How does Mary Poppins get her messages across? What's easier to hear, a command or a song? How does Poppins get respect from others?
Movie details
| Theatrical release date: | August 29, 1964 |
| DVD release date: | December 14, 2004 |
| Cast: | David Tomlinson, Dick Van Dyke, Julie Andrews |
| Director: | Robert Stevenson |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Topics: | Magic and fantasy, Book characters, Music and sing-along |
| Run time: | 140 minutes |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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What other families should know
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Kids love the music, magic, and fun
Kids at a very young age will enjoy this magical classic. Our child loved watching this movie soon after he turned 4. He is sensitive to tense scenes and conflict, which are scarcely seen in this film, so we often chose this movie over so many others deemed acceptable for young ones.
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Enchanting for a 4-year old
My 4-year old has a great attention span, and so this movie (which is a bit long and can seem slow in places) worked well for him. He just delights in the songs and animation/live action sequences.
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