A "Disnified" Disney Movie About Disney

Rating: 6/10 (28 December 2013)

"Saving Mr. Banks" is not a bad movie by any stretch of the imagination. The acting is superb and the writing witty, simultaneous with the nostalgia of Mary Poppins. However, the execution is choppy and the presentation cheesy. This movie has no idea of what it wants to be. At some points, the main characters are caught in moral dilemmas, creating tension that never quite hits its mark due to the tone of the film. In other moments, the characters are dancing and singing when a parallel to the childhood of P.L. Travers is shown. Nearly everything that happens in the movie has a parallel to P.L. Travers childhood. This is frustrating, as there is no typical banter between characters, making them far less relatable. Even in the scenes of drama and intensity, the corny music cues and somewhat mars it. Hanks portrays Disney without representing Disney, while Thompson does an excellent job as P.L. Travers. Tom Hanks could've done a fantastic job, had he been given more screen time, as he only has about half and hour. As for the good, Colin Farrell plays the father of P.L. Travers very well, he is convincing and you can tell that he played a large role in the development of P.L. Travers' character and the way that she carries her life (not to forget Mary Poppins) . The parts of the movie containing his character were by far the best and most emotionally touching. When you leave the theater, you will likely like some of it and not other parts, as I did. The movie loses much of its potency when you discover some of its inaccuracies in the way the story is presented. In conclusion, "Saving Mr. Banks" is a feel-good movie, not one that you go to in search of understanding or artistry. It's an enjoyable movie, but not one with resonance. 6/10