The film takes place in England (Like in "Mary
Poppins") during "The Blitz", and three children are forced to
live with a woman named Miss Price (Angela Lansbury) who's secretly a Witch in
training trying to the help the War effort. The children find out her secret,
and they go on many magical adventures with her, with a magic Bedknob that can
make the bed fly, and take them to anywhere they wish to go. Along the way,
Miss Price meets the man who's been sending her the spells named Professor
Browne (David Tomlinson) who is really a con-artist, who doesn't believe in
magic, and only sent the spells to make a quick buck. Much like in "Mary
Poppins" where a magic Nanny helps a workaholic Father spend time with his
kids like a Father should; this film basically takes the same route, only it’s
the person with the magical powers who comes to like the children. Although,
David Tomlinson also slowly changes from a money grabbin' con-man, to a hero
and Father figure for the children and becomes a love interest for Miss Price.
So yeah, the film and plot is very Mary Poppinsish , however, while being
a "Mary Poppins" knockoff, is the film good or bad? ON WITH THE
REVIEW...
The performances from our two leads are great! Lansbury and
Tomlinson really have great chemistry together whenever they're together on
screen! I love how their relationship with each other and the kids develops
throughout the film. I love how Tomlinson is a con-artist, but still remains
both fun and likable, as well changing his ways as the film proceeds. The best
part of their performance is they really make you feel the magical stuff
happening around them is actually real, then just rolling their eyes at how
ridiculous and unreal it is. In fact, they actually have fun with it, as well
as the film itself. If there was one thing that I didn't like about these
characters, it has to be when they try to steal the star away from a Lion King
that rules an Island full of anthropomorphic animals. I know they're doing it to help the war effort, but could they have
asked the King if they could see it and write down the words on the star, after
doing him a big favor. He seems like a jolly fellow despite his bad temper, and
really treats his guests well despite that he doesn't like people on his
Island. Of course this may have to do with the history of the animals killing the wizard who had the star, therefore it would it be a risky to thing to ask especially when knowing about people being unwelcome to the Island. So I guess it justifies their attempts, I just wish the film didn't make the King so likable or made the stakes of being in his presence a little higher so it wouldn't feel like a dick move. That aside, they still
remain as likable and fun characters.
The supporting characters are ok, but not as great as our
two leads. The kids in the film, while likable, and getting into the fun of the
film like our two leads, they're really not great actors. If you think I'm
noticing it now; I actually noticed it as a kid. I mean, the girl is decent,
but the two boys are poor at delivering most of their lines (In fact, I
can't understand what they're saying half of the time), and how they scream in
those cockney accents gets really annoying at times. Again, I don't hate them;
they're just not that good of actors. There's also the pet cat, and despite not
talking (Which having a talking black cat is a common thing in kids films about
friendly Witches) he's still a fun mischievous character. The rest of the
characters, I remember them, I enjoy them, but they really don't show up that
much in the film to become great characters. Granted, the film's focus is on the
leads and the children, but I question some of the characters presence and
motivation. For example, Roddy McDowell is listed on top of the supporting cast
credits, but he only shows up in two scenes, which are both funny, but they're extremely
short. I know, he shows up more in the extended cut, but in the original cut
that I own and that I'm reviewing, his presence seems pointless. Another
character I question about is the Bookman played greatly by Sam Jaffe, and
while we can assume that he's a criminal of some sorts, the film never ever
addresses why he's so obsessed with the spell that Miss Price is after. Again,
I don't hate the supporting characters or performances, but I'd like to see
more, or at least learn a little more about them, than what the film has given us.
The songs in this film are wonderful, I mean, I haven't seen
the film in years, and I still remember them! Lansbury's song "The Age Of
Not Believing" is a very touching and beautiful song, that it
really touches you on a emotional level, since she sings about people growing
up and doubting yourself, once you put everything you loved and believed as a
child aside. There's the underwater song sequence called "Beautiful Briny
Sea" sung by our two leads, which is so enchanting, so fun, and so
beautiful, that you're so sucked into the scene, that you don't care about the
logical stuff, like how are they able to breath underwater; how can the fish
talk; how can they come out of the water, and be as dry as dry clothes coming
out of a dryer. Of course, even questioning it when it’s over; I always assumed
that they traveled into the world of the book, which would explain a lot of
things. The "Substitutiary Locomotion" song, where they use the spell
to make objects move is so catchy and so much fun, that its one of the funniest
scenes in the movie. Yeah, I do question why only some objects move, as opposed
to all objects; and why McDowell's hat just randomly flies off and flies back
on, when she stopped casting the spell, but I'm over analyzing and shouldn't
really look for too much logic in the mysteries of magic. Besides it’s still a
really fun scene. There's the whole "Portobello Road" song and dance
sequence, which bored me as a kid, but now seeing it as an adult, I love it. I
love the song; I love the energy and choreography; and the different cultures
and music coming together for such a huge dance sequence is so much fun and brilliant
that you don't want it to end, and when it does end, you're sad, but are ready
to move on with the film, and see the many more magical things that this film
offers. It's basically the "Step-In-Time" of the movie. The other two
songs "Eglantine" and "The Old Home Guard"; while short,
they're still fun and catchy songs. As for the film's score; it’s great. It's
magical, it brings the film such great atmosphere, and it sucks me into the
film by each viewing.
Finally, we go to the special effects, and after all these years, I still think they hold up really, really, well! Nowadays, it would be all done in CGI, but here, they take different approaches like green screen; mixing animation with live action; using strings to make things move by themselves; train animals to move around and perform certain stunts; and they all work great. The animated and live action sequences are done just as incredible as previous Disney films like "Song Of The South" and "Mary Poppins", and while some people may find the sequence to be pointless to the films plot, its still in my opinion one of the highlights of the movie. The actors interacting with the animated world is done so convincingly that you actually think they're there; the slapstick with the animals playing "Football" or "Soccer" (I really don't know which! In England "Soccer" is called "Football"; while the animals who have British accents call it "Soccer", when in many respects should call their version of the sport a different name do to how they play it) is so fun and entertaining that you don't care if it’s pointless or not; and the animals themselves are really fun characters! For me, the highlight of the movie is when Miss Price casts a spell on suits of armor to fight off a Nazi army. Yeah, some people maybe sensitive towards the idea of Nazi's being in a kids film (Especially being a Disney film), but I personally don't mind it, since they are treated as bad guys. The effects for the floating drums, horns, costumes, and Armour is done so well and convincingly that it’s nearly flawless. The scene itself, while played out for laughs and slapstick comedy, it still has a huge epic feel to it, with the atmosphere, music, visual effects, cinematography, and sound effects. The special effects won the Oscar for Best Visual effects, and in my opinion, it defiantly earned it.
While the film is flawed, and does fall under the shadow of "Mary Poppins", I still think it's a great classic Disney film. The performances from our two leads are wonderful; the songs are memorable; the effects are still magical; and it's a really fun, magical, and entertaining kids film that still holds up despite its flaws. At times you do question some of the logic in this film, but you overlook it and suspend your disbelief to enjoy it for all the great things it has to offer.
RATING 4/5
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