Nanny McPhee Returns

In this winning sequel based on Christianna Brand's Nurse Matilda books, Emma Thompson reprises her earlier dual role—both as star and screenwriter. Set during World War II, Nanny McPhee Returns finds the snaggletoothed Mary Poppins-like Nanny coming to the aid of a stressed-out mother in the English countryside. While her soldier husband (Ewan McGregor) is off fighting, Isabel Green (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and her three children (Asa Butterfield, Lil Woods, Oscar Steer) are struggling to survive. Their lives are complicated by the arrival of two spoiled, precocious cousins (Eros Vlahos, Rosie Taylor-Ritson) dispatched from London to escape the bombing, and by a scheming attempt on the part of devious, despicable Uncle Phil (Rhys Ifans) to sell off the Green farm to pay his gambling debts. Nanny McPhee's mission is to teach the tiny shrieking terrors five vital lessons that will leave the family “wanting” but not “needing” her services. Director Susanna White elicits fine performances from her entire human cast (which also includes Ralph Fiennes, Bill Bailey, and Maggie Smith), as well as some animals—young viewers are sure to enjoy the flying piglets (proficient at synchronized swimming, climbing trees, and Scrabble), a pen-stealing baby elephant, and a flatulent blackbird. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Susanna White, several brief “making-of” featurettes (16 min. total), deleted scenes (15 min.), “A Look Inside” behind-the-scenes segment (3 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the BD-Live function. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a fun family film.] (S. Granger)