Cinemania Student Critic Review: Mary Poppins

by David Sapp, Cinemania Student Critic

Cinemania Student Critic David Sapp

Robert Stevenson’s 1964 film Mary Poppins is about how a magical nanny helps transform two kids’ relationships with their father through fun and liveliness.  The film is visually stunning and extremely impressive for the time period. Looking at it from a modern-day standpoint, it’s amazing what they were able to achieve with the level of technology they had back then.  The combination of classic 2D animation and beautiful hand-drawn watercolor backgrounds in the chalk drawing sequence was exquisite. Watching this in theaters is definitely the best way to experience a classic like this.

The story is very plain but somehow the director was able to take a very simple and somewhat bland plot and turn it into something magical.  It’s very original and it has inspired countless generations of filmmakers. Almost every sequence in this film is drawn out to its fullest and is extremely detailed and well-choreographed.  They go on for very long yet never get boring because every minute, something new and unique is added. It was packed with energetic dance scenes like the chimney sweep scene, and iconic songs like Chim Chim Cher-ee and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.  The effects were colorful, and the acting was spirited. Altogether it’s a great picture.

Mary Poppins screened at the JBFC on Saturday, November 16, 2019 as part of year-round series JBFC Kids. 

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