I think this is a pretty decent flick for the whole family, probably not at the same level of masterpieces like "The Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins", but at least it was much better than most of the so-called family films that Hollywood keeps producing in the recent years.For me, what made this movie work were the funny performances of each actor, particularly Colin Firth and Emma Thompson, who made this film a very enjoyable experience despite the silliness of some scenes.Honestly, this turned out to be much better than I was expecting, and some scenes (like for example, the beautiful ending scene) remind me the times when innocent films for the whole family were produced, unlike the commercial and inappropriate kid's movies and television shows of the recent years.

While I am not sure that I would have cast Colin Firth as the father in this movie, he does an okay job. The rest of the cast are pretty near perfect. The children led by Thomas Brodie- Sangster are just right and manage to be irritating at the beginning without being so obnoxious that the viewer hates them. Imelda Staunton shows what a fine comedy actress she is as does Celia Imrie. Emma Thompson has written a marvellous screenplay and her performance as the title character is just pitch perfect. it would have been so easy to overplay such a quirky character. She is everything that Mary Poppins should have been and was not. This is the sort of film that normally i would run a hundred miles from so I never saw it in the cinema or on DVD. I caught it on TV and both my wife and I loved it. Miss Thompson has crafted an instant children's classic which will be shown over and over and enjoyed by succeeding generations of all ages.

This movies starts and develops at first almost like an awkward and pale remake of THE SOUND OF MUSIC (minus the music and plus the magic an a few more farcical than funny gags). After a mediocre and not very original development with a few not very funny gags the last scenes save the movie from a negative mark. In fact we begin to see a few funnier gags (namely the cream tart battle scenes at the wedding ceremony) and some scenes of poetical and romantic meaning. Emma Thompson makes a more or less good character as the Nanny and her surprising transformation along the movie till the final outcome is very meaningful even in the general context of the story. This movie begins as mediocre and ends up as passable after all.

Nanny McPhee is an example of a film where I was put off by the trailers, but I am glad I saw the film, because it is a lively, well meaning and very colourful film. Not to mention entertaining... there are some very amusing scenes in the early parts of the film, with the children, who all gave spirited performances. The costumes and sets are very colourful, with beautiful vivid colours, perhaps a bit too much at times, but you can't deny the look of the film was lovely. The script was absolutely delightful, very lively and entertaining. But what made this film was the performance of Emma Thompson, who was just terrific. As was Colin Firth, and I thoroughly enjoyed Angela Lansbury's turn as an elderly aristocrat. The ending was easily the best scene of the film, the visuals were just amazing in that scene, and the music by Patrick Doyle was fun too. However, adults may get tired of some of the jokes, and there are some slow moments in the middle half, but I commend the film for its messaging, that were well meaning and thoughtful. All in all, a very enjoyable film, perhaps more for children, but adults will like the visuals and Emma Thompson. 8/10 Bethany Cox