The soft, sweet, and semi-unfamiliar sound of chuckles and giggles sung throughout the theater from beginning to end. Though it was the children in the audience who kindly provided the background noise, the wonderful tale of "Nanny McPhee" proves to be an entertaining story for all ages. "Nanny McPhee" is a fantastically colorful film. As if the pages of a storybook have come to life, the elaborate costumes and the colorful scenery transform this film into a magical fantasy experience.
Screenplay writer and leading role, Emma Thompson captures the stern yet compassionate character of Nanny McPhee. Thompson's distinguished elegance is disguised under heavy makeup and costume, though her blue eyes and unique talent may give away her identity. Thompson has appeared in a lengthy list of films, including her most recent roles in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" in 2004 and "Imagining Argentina" and "Love Actually" in 2003. Co-starring with Thompson is England's very own dashingly handsome Colin Firth ("Love Actually"). Other stars include Kelly MacDonald ("Finding Neverland"), playing the loveable kind-hearted kitchen maid Evangeline, and Celia Imrie ("Wimbledon"), who plays the role of conniving and cruel Mrs. Quickly.
Directed by Kirk Jones, and based on the "Nurse Matilda" children's books by Christianna Brand, "Nanny McPhee" is a fantasy comedy story of a widowed father, his seven troublesome, yet helplessly adorable children, and the magic that unexpectedly appears at their doorstep. The plot develops when Nanny McPhee, an unfortunate looking woman with an oversized nose, hair-sprouting warts and incongruously kind blue eyes, perfectly times her mysterious arrival at Mr. Brown's (Colin Firth) home. Nanny McPhee is nanny number 18, as the Brown children have successfully driven away 17 others with a variety of torturous pranks. But Nanny McPhee does not hesitate to use her magic, and she proves to be different than the other nannies. With a single pound of Nanny McPhee's wooden cane, she is able to make anything possible, even turning seven misbehaving troublemakers into pleasant, "please and thank you"-using children.
Mr. Brown is a hard-working man struggling to provide monetary support and show his affection for his children. The children's tyrannical great Aunt Adelaide (Angela Lansbury, "Murder, She Wrote") informs Mr. Brown that if he does not marry by the end of the month, she will cut off the family's necessary monthly allowance and take custody of one of his children. In the midst of Nanny McPhee's disciplinary instruction, the children begin to realize the extremely harmful effects their wicked ways have on their father's attempt at marriage. As the children start shaping up, Nanny McPhee's unattractive features seem to slowly fade away, making the children even more fascinated by her mystical ways. While the Brown children are busy learning right from wrong, Mr. Brown learns that it is okay to demonstrate his love — not only for his soon-to-be wife, but for his children as well.
In desperate times, the family dynamic matures as the children vow to put their monkey business aside, and Mr. Brown wisely decides to face true love once again. When Nanny McPhee arrives, she declares that she has come to teach the children five specific lessons, but the whole family and audience members alike learn much more than the planned teachings. Intertwined within the plot are a number of valuable lessons, appropriate for both the youngest and oldest of audience members. In addition to the movie's most obvious, and slightly cliché lesson, that looks are most certainly deceiving, "Nanny McPhee" is an impressive elementary presentation of advanced ideas and themes.
Do not write "Nanny McPhee" off as a movie just for younger brothers and sisters, though there may be plenty of children sitting beside you at the theater. The innocent laughter in the background compliments the film quite nicely actually, further contributing to the complete and utter enjoyment of this film. The lessons in "Nanny McPhee" are undeniably valuable to each individual in the audience, and we all know it never hurts to be reminded of the importance of having good morals and appreciating what you have. As you watch Nanny McPhee walk off into the distance with an unmistakable feeling of satisfaction and contentment, do not be surprised if you find yourself exiting the theater feeling as though you are headed in a slightly more positive direction as well.
4 out of 5
