NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS (UK 2010 ) ***
Directed by Susanna White

For a TV director and Thompson’s writing effort, the second installment of Nanny McPhee is standard family fare, but one cannot help but adore this will intentioned effort.

Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) arrives to help a harried young mother, Isabel (Maggie Gyllenhaal) who is trying to run the family farm while her husband is away at war.  She uses her magic to teach the woman’s children and their two spoiled cousins five new lessons.  At the same time, she has to save the farm from being sold to the nasty Uncle Phil (Rhys Ifans).

Director White and writer Thompson spice things up by adding lots of magic from flying motorcycles, flying and synchronized swimming piglets as well as tear-jerking sentiment when father returns missing-in-action from the war.  This is all fine and dandy as everyone loves a good tall tale and the film makes no qualms at being rooted in reality.

The beautiful English countryside (shot in Buckinghamshire, England) is a plut and even the mud looks gorgeous. The war atmosphere is effectively created from the props, wardrobe and dialogue.

NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS is a prime example of how much contribution the actors make in the success of a good comedy.  Oscar winner Emma Thompson who won the Oscar in the drama HOWARD’S END returns to her comic roots and thankfully, is a delight in the film.  She steals most of her scenes and understandably she gives herself the best lines (McPhee.. small c, big P..as often as she introduces herself.) Of the 5 children, Eros Vlahos as the spoilt cousin Cyril is really good and can be both funny and dramatic as he wrings tears from the audience’s eyes when she confronts his unloving father at the war office.  Maggie Gyllenhaal (why don’t they get a Britichs actress to play a Brit?) overacts for all she is worth and Rhys Ifans as Uncle Phil is plain unfunny and annoying as the villain of the piece.  Maggie Smith is plain wasted as a forgetful old senior.

NANNY MCPHEE promises good solid family entertainment despite a predictable storyline.  Hopefully, the nanny will return yet another time.