Mary Poppins Returns hit theaters on December 19th, which makes it a perfect film to see with your kids for the holidays. When thinking about this Mary Poppins Returns review, I knew I needed to focus on how this film will resonate with different age groups, since you will be taking the whole family to see it.

Mary Poppins Returns Review – A Parent’s Honest Opinion

In Mary Poppins Returns, we return to Cherry Tree Lane to see that the Banks’ children, Michael and Jane, are all grown up. While they have started their adult lives, we quickly learn that they still need help from the most magical nanny there is, Mary Poppins.

Emily Blunt is Mary Poppins, Emily Mortimer is Jane Banks, Ben Whishaw is Michael Banks and Joel Dawson is Georgie Banks in Disney’s MARY POPPINS RETURNS, a sequel to the 1964 MARY POPPINS, which takes audiences on an entirely new adventure with the practically perfect nanny and the Banks family.

Tackling A 2 Hour Film – A Parent Hack

One factor that might deter you from taking your smaller kids to see Mary Poppins Returns is that it’s 2 hours long. This is actually one of the things I’m worried about when it comes to our 4 year old. But I have a hack for you. The Mary Poppins Returns soundtrack is now available to listen to and download. I suggest you download the soundtrack, and let your small children listen to it.

Once you take them to see Mary Poppins Returns, they will be familiar with the songs, and will want to see the visual version of the melodies. You may even get a kiddo or two getting up out of their seat to dance, which is a definite bonus.

Emily Blunt is Mary Poppins, Joel Dawson is Georgie, Pixie Davies is Annabel and Nathanael Saleh is John in Disney’s MARY POPPINS RETURNS, a sequel to the 1964 MARY POPPINS, which takes audiences on an entirely new adventure with the practically perfect nanny and the Banks family.

Dark Scenes in Mary Poppins Returns

There are a few scenes in Mary Poppins Returns that are visually dark. Think of a rainy day in London, and that is a the visual in a few parts of the film. There is one scene where the younger Banks’ children go on an action-packed adventure, and this scene may be intense for your younger kids. For what it’s worth, your older kids will think it’s extremely cool. I would hold your young ones a little tighter during this scene.

Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) returns to the Banks home after many years and uses her magical skills to help the now grown up Michael and Jane rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives in MARY POPPINS RETURNS, directed by Rob Marshall.

When To Take A Break With Little Ones

After seeing the film twice during the Mary Poppins Returns Event, I have to break the bad news: there really isn’t a place in the film where it’s fine to take your kids out of the theater and not miss anything. With 9 musical numbers, and a fun and heartfelt storyline, you won’t want to miss a minute of this 2 hour film. If you have to leave the theater to give your kiddo a break, just know you’re going to want to see Mary Poppins Returns again to see the parts you missed.

Take A Break Tip: encourage your kid to dance during the appropriate musical numbers. This may keep them from wanting to leave the theater during parts that parents NEED to experience.

Mary Poppins Returns Review In 3 Words

I was completely blown away by Mary Poppins Returns. Mary Poppins is my favorite non-animated Disney film, so I was so touched to see how much they honored those of us that love the original movie. My official review on Twitter was very simple: Whimsical, Sensational, Spectacular. That’s how you’ll feel once you leave the theater, and your kids will also feel the same way. Be prepared to hear them sing the songs for the next 3 months to 3 years.