Movie Review

Magical Mary Poppins Returns enchants with elements old and new

There are a couple of different ways to look at Disney’s current mission to revisit most of their iconic properties. The cynical way is to view them as mere cash grabs that do little more than repackage stories in different wrapping. The more generous way is to say that they’re giving a new generation a chance to call a movie their own, regardless of whether they’ve seen the original or not.

The fantastic thing about Mary Poppins Returns, though, is that it seamlessly blends together the old and the new for a thoroughly enchanting experience. Taking over the role of Mary Poppins from Julie Andrews is Emily Blunt, who can play prim and proper as well as sweet and charming with the best of them. Those traits and others make her introduction as Poppins smooth and easy.

The magical nanny has been summoned into action due to the family struggles of the now grown-up Michael Banks (Ben Whishaw), whose wife died the year before. His kids — John (Nathanael Saleh), Anabel (Pixie Davies), and Georgie (Joel Dawson) — are a mostly obedient group, but their mother’s absence and the prospect of possibly losing their home still affects them deeply.

Mary, with ever-willing assistance by lamplighter Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), proceeds to help the Banks children as only she can, including fantastical trips to an underwater land, into a painted pottery scene, and more. The lessons she imparts are never heavy-handed, but rather ones meant to guide those willing to listen to where they need to be.

Though this sequel is coming 54 years after the original, director Rob Marshall and his team have somehow made the years between the two vanish. Sure, the visuals are greatly enhanced thanks to modern technology, but the filmmakers have paid homage to the first film in all the best ways, giving the new movie a similar feel without ever coming across as a mere copy.

A big part of this are the new songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Many of them are so quick that it will take repeat viewings to fully appreciate them, but a few stand out so much that they instantly compare to the classics from the original. These include “Can You Imagine That?,” “The Place Where the Lost Things Go,” “Nowhere to Go But Up,” and especially “Trip a Little Light Fantastic.” That last song is a showcase for Miranda that will leave you humming it long after you leave the theater.

The film is bursting at the seams with so many wonderful elements that it’s almost impossible to list them all. Blunt is near-perfect as Mary, and Miranda proves that his talents are not constrained to making Tony Award-winning musicals. Supporting turns by Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, and Colin Firth are a delight, as are cameos by Meryl Streep, Angela Lansbury, and the inimitable Dick Van Dyke.

Mary Poppins Returns is a film designed to make tons of money, but you won’t regret paying to see it for one second. Your childhood memories will remain intact and be enhanced by this mesmerizing movie.

Emily Blunt in Mary Poppins Returns.

Emily Blunt in Mary Poppins Returns

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

Emily Blunt in Mary Poppins Returns.

weekend event planner

Here are the top 14 things to do in Houston this weekend

Houston Barbecue festival attendees with tray

Courtesy of the Houston Barbecue Festival

Try samples from more than 20 restaurants at the Houston Barbecue Festival.

We’re in the middle of spring events season, which means every weekend is truly loaded. Over the next few days, Houstonians can tour homes, go to art shows, practice their home run swings, and eat their weight in smoked meat.

Enjoy; here are your best bets for the weekend.

Thursday, March 30

Home Run Dugout Grand Opening
Home Run Dugout, the first-ever sports bar, restaurant, and entertainment venue featuring indoor soft-toss baseball, will open to the public this weekend. A brand-new way to play baseball with friends, Home Run Dugout has reinvented the batting cage, offering an immersive, social gamified playing experience suitable for sluggers of all ages and skill levels. The restaurant’s extensive menu features elevated ballpark-inspired fare, with shareables like crispy chicken sliders, smoked chicken wings, and buttermilk onion rings. 11 am.

Houston Junior Forum presents The City Market
Usher in spring at The City Market, where guests will get a chance to explore a curated market featuring a wide variety of merchants. Houston Junior Forum’s event benefits a range of charitable services for children, youth, women, and senior adults in the Greater Houston area. Check out this market with your best pals, or have a day to yourself while finding what’s new for spring. The main market takes place on Friday, with a separately ticketed preview party on Thursday. 5:30 pm (11 am Friday).

FotoFest presents “Contact: Making Images Using the Cyanotype Process” opening reception and public workshop
Head over to this celebration and cyanotype-making workshop, held in conjunction with FotoFest’s latest exhibition. See the incredible handmade cyanotypes created at recent workshops. Guests are invited to create cyanotype artworks in a free, artist-led workshop. Images made during the workshop will be displayed at Silver Street Studios. Guests are also encouraged to bring objects to create unique images. Flowers, negatives, and other fun objects with unique silhouettes work best. Through Saturday, May 20. 6 pm.

Friday, March 31

NCAA presents Reese's Men's Final Four Friday®
Filled with interactive activities and entertainment for fans of all ages, this public event includes open team practices for the participating Men’s Final Four teams as well as the Reese’s NABC All-Star Game, Top senior student-athletes from around the country will be playing on the Men’s Final Four court. This event will provide an opportunity to see the teams and players up close, and be in the venue that will host the semifinal and championship games. 10 am.

Silambam presents Waking Up Free: India’s Journey
As India celebrates its 75th year of Indian independence, this evening-length performance tells the stories of India’s fight for independence. Based on the traditional Maargam format of Bharatanatyam, this original production weaves together classical Indian music and the expressivity of classical Indian dance to tell the story of struggle and hope in present-day India. The event will also be livestreamed on Miller Outdoor Theatre website, as well as its YouTube and Facebook pages. 8 pm.

University of Houston School of Theatre & Dance presents Shakespeare in Love
Young Will Shakespeare has writer’s block. The deadline for his new play is fast approaching, but he’s in desperate need of inspiration. That is, until he finds his muse: the feisty, brilliant and beautiful Viola. This crafty young woman is Will’s greatest admirer and will stop at nothing to appear in his next play. Against a bustling background of mistaken identity, ruthless scheming and backstage theatrics, Will’s love for Viola quickly blossoms, inspiring him to write his greatest romantic masterpiece. Through April 9. 8 pm (2 pm Sunday).

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema presents Graveyard Shift: Silver Bullet
Where Wolf – a new creator-owned graphic novel from creative team Rob Saucedo, Debora Lancianese and Jack Morelli – is set in the wild world of furry conventions, small-town Texas journalism and werewolf whodunits. Leading up to the book’s wide release, Saucedo will tour movie theaters across the country, screening werewolf films and providing an opportunity to purchase the graphic novel early at signing events. For this screening, he’ll show this 1985 thriller, based on Stephen King’s novel Cycle of the Werewolf. 10 pm.

Saturday, April 1

Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation presents Sugar Land Arts Fest
The Sugar Land Arts Fest will feature two days of art, music, wine, and food. A premier arts festival in the Houston metropolitan region, the festival will showcase over 100 visual artists from around the country, with paintings, sculpture, photography, glassworks, and more. There will also be continuous live music in the center of the festival, a wine and beer garden, food trucks, and an exclusive VIP sponsor area. 10 am.

ROCO presents The Nightingale Book Launch
Guests can experience Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairytale in a new musical setting commissioned by ROCO. Along with illustrations by Amy Scheidegger Ducos, music and story combine for the release of The Nightingale as an interactive children’s book, to be given free to the first 50 children in attendance. ROCO concertmaster Scott St. John, principal clarinet Nathan Williams, and composer/pianist Kevin Lau will perform, with Alecia Lawyer as narrator. 10:30 am.

Houston Edible Book Festival
Edible book festivals around the world celebrate books, humor, and imagination through the creation of dishes inspired by books and puns. Always celebrated on or around April Fools’ Day, it’s an event that features food shaped like, or referring to, books. It is a fun and engaging community activity which involves both children’s and adults’ books. This year, The Printing Museum is partnering with the Houston Book Arts Guild and hosting the festival at its new location in Midtown! This event brings delight to both entrants and onlookers. 4 pm.

Tradesman X Gil Mindiola “Die A Hero” Art Show
Tradesmen Barber is hosting local artist Gil Mindiola for his exhibition. Mindiola’s art will be showcased in the shop, providing an experience to the Houston community unlike any other. Mindiola pours his heart into his creative body of work and allows a palpable vulnerability that jumps out at the viewer. Craft Pita will serve complimentary food, and Equal Parts Brewing and Todos Santos will offer complimentary drinks. 9th Stage will deliver sounds. Admission is free. 6 pm.

Sunday, April 2

West U Home Tour
West University Elementary PTO will present the annual West U Home Tour. The event will feature eight unique homes in West University Place, highlighting the work of local builders, architects, designers, and realtors. Featured properties range in style from modern masterpieces to transitional family abodes to carefully restored vintage homes. Check-in for the event is at Tiny's No. 5; home addresses will be given to paid ticketholders. Proceeds from the tour benefit the West University Elementary School PTO. Noon.

10th Annual Houston Barbecue Festival
The Houston Barbecue Festival will celebrate its tenth anniversary this weekend. The lineup includes longtime favorites like CorkScrew BBQ, Gatlin’s BBQ, and Truth BBQ, as well as new talents like Khoi Barbecue and Bar-A-BBQ. This year’s charitable partner is Recovery Houston Foundation. All tickets include entry into the festival and unlimited sample portions from each barbecue joint. VIP tickets include one drink ticket, a T-shirt and entry into the festival one hour early. A bar with craft and national beers will be available. 1 pm.

Couture Gawds presents Couture with Cause
Couture with Cause serves as the second annual charity event supporting the human trafficking awareness initiative. The event will feature comedy, vocalists, dancers, and couture fashion worn by models for Evida Agency. The show will display creative work from three designers and allow guests to network, shop with vendors and enjoy cocktails and live music. The show will have menswear, resort wear, swimwear, etc. 5 pm.

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