Nanny McPhee

Plot synopsis:
In Victorian England, widowed undertaker Cedric Brown has seven unruly children. He is clumsy and loves his children but spends little time with them and cannot handle them. The children have had a series of nannies, which they systematically drive out by their bad behaviour. They also terrorize the cook, Mrs. Blatherwick.
One day, Cedric discovers throughout the home references for a "Nanny McPhee". That stormy night, the children cause havoc in the kitchen. Cedric sees a shadow behind the door and opens it to reveal a frighteningly hideous woman, who states that she is Nanny McPhee and is a "government nanny". With discipline and a little magic, she transforms the family's lives. In the process, she changes from ugly to beautiful, her warts and unibrow disappearing. The children, led by the eldest son Simon, try to play their tricks on her, but gradually start to respect her and ask her for advice. They change to responsible people helping their clumsy father in solving the family problems, making Nanny McPhee less and less needed.
The family is financially supported by Cedric's late wife's domineering and nearsighted aunt Lady Adelaide Stitch, who demands custody over one of the children. She first wants Christianna (Chrissie), one of the daughters, but Evangeline, Cedric's uneducated scullery maid, volunteers and Adelaide agrees, assuming she is one of the daughters. She also threatens to reduce the family to poverty unless Cedric remarries within the month; the family would lose the house, and they would not be able to stay together. Desperate, Cedric turns to a vile and frequent widow, Mrs. Selma Quickly. The children assume from books that stepmothers are terrible; therefore they sabotage a visit of Mrs. Quickly, who leaves, angry at Cedric. After the financial rationale for the marriage is explained to the children, they agree to the marriage, and appease Mrs. Quickly by confessing they were to blame for the disturbance of her visit, luring her back to their father with tales of their Great Aunt Adelaide's wealth.
The children discover that Mrs. Quickly is just as cruel as they suspected when she breaks their real mother's rattle (the only thing they had left of her). When everybody is gathered for the marriage ceremony, they disturb the ceremony by pretending there are bees (mimicking the way Quickly told them to "be-have"), chasing the guests, and throwing the pastries intended for the banquet at everyone present. Cedric understands they do not like the bride and, recognising that he does not like her either, joins in the commotion himself. Mrs. Quickly cancels the marriage and storms off in anger. This seems to mean that Adelaide's marriage deadline is missed, but Lily asks Evangeline whether she loves Cedric. She first denies, explaining that it would be inappropriate because of her station as maidservant, but then confirms she does. Cedric marries Evangeline the same day, satisfying Aunt Adelaide's conditions for maintaining his allowance; and Nanny McPhee (who is now beautiful), magically makes it snow, which transforms the wedding scene, and restores the children's real mother's rattle for them.
Nanny McPhee leaves surreptitiously, in accordance with what she told the children before on her first night: "When you need me, but do not want me, then I must stay. When you want me, but no longer need me, then I have to go".

Tags: comedy, fantasy, entertaining, prank

Review:
The cast was outstanding - Colin Firth marvelously befuddled, Angela Lansbury wonderfully austere, Emma Thompson gruesomely wise and endearing, and all of the children sweet and mischievous without being cloying and horrible.
The children are unruly and their father has his own stresses of desperately searching for a wife before his mean-spirited great aunt cuts off his allowance and everything is falling apart at the seams...until Nanny McPhee enters the house to sort things out.
Think of 'Mary Poppins' if Roald Dahl had written the character and you have an idea of what happens next!The best thing about this film is that while it will appeal to children, it doesn't dumb down or indulge in cavity-inducing sweetness that you tend to see in films produced by Hollywood.
Colin Firth was perfect as this dithering man who may be meek but will do anything for his children and Emma Thompson is totally unrecognisable as the lead character of Nanny McPhee (she also deserves much recognition her skills in script-writing this film).
I certainly hope to see more of young Raphael Coleman, who played the middle son Eric, in future films as he totally threw himself into his character and was the most engaging of the children.I'd highly recommend this to people who enjoyed 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' (both old and new versions) and 'Matilda'.
I went to see this film today with my daughter, who is 31 and her 5 year old daughter and it's a long time since I saw such a truly wonderful film in the cinema.(and I go often)I went as a typical granny, ready to enjoy the day out for what it was, but I said to my daughter at the end that if it had been a DVD, I would happily have watched it again right away.Apart from the brilliant performances from all involved, this was a beautifully filmed piece of work.
The staging and vivid colours used were absolutely perfect and each set was full of things to catch your eye.I've always liked Emma Thompson, but not in a 'big fan' kind of way, but I must say she gave one of the most understated, beautifully controlled performances, and her wonderful character was magically endearing within moments of her arrival on the scene.I thought hard before giving a rating for this film, but couldn't find one thing to stop it from being absolutely perfect..
Celia Imrie creates a colourful character in Mrs Quickly, Imelda Staunton is fantastic as the cook (Mrs Blatherwick) and Angela Lansbury is expertly cast as Aunt Adelaide (despite the feathered dress making her look like a turkey!) As guessed at on another thread, Nanny McPhee does teach the children - that manners matter, you should be responsible for your actions, and that actions have consequences.
Instead she gives a careful and considered performance - everything in the right measure.Enjoy Nanny McPhee for what it is - a large dose of magical escapism with plenty of laughs for good measure.
Only the final wedding segment got carried away with juvenile silliness; the rest was fun for adults and well as the kids, who must have loved this all the way through.This is simply good entertainment and highly recommended..
But thankfully, as Nanny McPhee progresses, it twists and turns in such a pleasant fashion that by the end, you'll be wondering 'Mary who?' Adapted for the screen by Thompson herself, this is a fun and inventive kids film that is guaranteed to make you smile.
The score, by-the-books though it may be, is perfect and bodes well for Doyle's work on the new Harry Potter movie.Rather than basing its entirety on the naughty kids storyline, McPhee jumps from plot point to plot point, stuffing a whole lotta characters and twists into it's 97 minute running time.
Thanks to this, Thompson's endearing loveliness and a cute array of kids (lead by Thomas Sangster, the kid from Love Actually), Nanny McPhee emerges triumphant as one of the better kids movies in recent memory, mostly because the adults will love it too.
A Truly Moving Picture "explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life." Heartland gave that award to this film.There are seven rather naughty children who have creatively and gleefully drove away seventeen nannies who tried to tame them.
Emma Thompson fearlessly works with seven children and a barnyard of animals -- not to mention ugly-face make-up -- and she never once is upstaged.My only complaint is about Colin Firth, who has a thankless role, but I've never found him all that interesting anyway.My 9-year-old daughter, an avid Harry Potter fan, enjoyed the magic of the story and its rich layers of morality.
One of the most poetic understatements in any kid film occurs with the first shot: an empty chair, once occupied by a loving mother.Nanny McPhee arrives to teach the unruly children, but the grown-ups have the most to learn about loss, honesty, and true love..
The lavish sets and designs are incredibly hypnotic.Then there are actors like Emma Thompson (superb), Colin Firth (great) and Imelda Staunton (hilarious) who hardly ever let down.
Great story, marvelous set direction, beautiful acting (especially from the children), Emma Thompson and Colin Firth.
A delightful and, at times, delightfully wicked family movie that will please all ages: A treat for the whole family - literally - we went as a group aged from 7 to 80 and were all enthralled by this magical tale.The Brown household is one of chaos and disorder - seven children who delight in disposing of Nannies at an alarming rate.
Enter Nanny McPhee, who dispenses lessons far more profound than her simple explanations of them would suggest and it's not just the children she needs to teach.The lively plot twists and turns, the children are engaging but never nauseating and the climax is first hilarious and then heart-warming.Among live-action children's movies this has to be one of the best I've seen in a very long time..
I loved Emma Thompson in this, and although Angela Lansbury goes well over the top in her role it actually adds to the fun.The children are all endearing and are high quality acts.
Emma Thompson gave a wonderful, under-stated performance - showing what true professionals are made of.I had thought that the film may be a bit like Mary Poppins - but my fears were quickly alleviated.
It had fun acting, bright colors, and magical enchantment that can grab anyone.Colin Firth plays Mr. Brown, a single widowed father who must marry a woman by the end of the month, otherwise his aunt will cut off his allowance and he'll loose his children.
:D I would highly recommend Nanny McPhee for the whole family to enjoy, it's a great movie.
This is a predictable film, but gripping and saved by some very fine acting and plenty of over-the-top moments, from both adults and kids, "good" and "bad".The story-line is similar to the Disney staple Mary Poppins: a family (here, a recently widowed, single father played by Colin Firth) has 7 children (shades of Sound of Music).
Enteer Nannny McPhee who has 5 lessons to teach the kids, and whose maxim is "When you need me but don't want me, I'll stay; when you want me, but don't need me, I'll go." A lot like the premise of Mary Poppins.It's a good-natured film, with some good performances by Anela Lanbury, Imelda Stauten (as the 'cook'), Celia Imrie (as the potential (not so good) stepmother; Kelly Macdonald (as the housemaid-cum-lady), and Thomas Sangster, as a precocious, intelligent child, Simon.The children learn their five lessons; Nanny McPhee teaches them how to be a more functional family.
But recent family films have dented my distaste for such movies and here comes another one, Britain's belated answer to the likes of "Mary Poppins".
I must be going soft in my old age!Colin Firth plays the long-suffering Mr Brown, a widowed funeral director living in Victorian England and father to seven children.
Enter a strange-looking woman called Nanny McPhee (creator Emma Thompson) who promises to sort out the unruly children once and for all.
In "Nanny McPhee," on the other hand, the magic is simply wishful thinking, an implicit admission by the filmmakers that in the real world they would have no idea how to deal with kids like these except through brute force.Meanwhile, the father is trying to court a rich bitch so that he won't be disinherited by an aunt (Angela Lansbury).
We can only guess that she's been the subject of some supernatural curse in the tradition of "Beauty and the Beast." I assume that the book on which the movie is based provides some background on the character, but curiously the film never does: we never learn a thing about where she came from or where she'll go when she's done with the kids.The movie has one great line, when Thompson explains to the children, "When you need me but do not want me, then I must stay.
Viewers of all ages can benefit from this entertaining, thought-provoking film that inspires the well behaved child in us all.Made up clever comedy, a fantastic screenplay, incredible acting, and don't forget: "please" and "thank you", this movie is a must-see for anyone who's ever been a little naughty..
Emma Thompson and Colin Firth are wonderful to watch (big fan of both), Angela Lansbury is cartoonishly funny/scary, and the rest of the cast are flawless (hats off to Derek Jacobi - nice to see him post-Cadfael).
The movie started great, with eye-catching sets and quick humour (and even some 'bums' to keep the kids happy), but I can only rate it with a 6 out of 10, as I was fairly disappointed at the lack of focus on Nanny McPhee's 'rules' - which seemed to be the most important part of the movie at the beginning - and couldn't help but feel that she'd been forgotten.All the same, I loved the ending, and the way that everything turns out; this movie definitely has something for everyone and, despite a certain amount of silliness, it's worth watching, especially to keep children entertained on a rainy day (but anyone who actually cares about a movie's plot and characters should probably be warned)..
Colin Firth is the father of seven children that are so naughty but also very funny they have had seventeen nannies to look after them in such a little while and they father is looking for a new nanny to look after his children and he finds nanny Mcphee who is played by Emma Thompson.Emma Thompson is a lady full of discipline and teaches the kids how to be good children while their father has to find a lady to marry before a month that are orders of the kids great aunt Adelaide who is played by Angela Lansbury.
I could see no link to MP other than it was about a nanny.The quirky setting was ideal with the house dilapidate in a jolly kind of way, so often I find this quite a depressing area.Derek Jacobi and his side kick added a delightfully gay humour aspect.Imelda Staunton as usual was brilliant, the kids were cute (no little brat as is normal in these types of films) Emma Thompson was definitely a star in an understated way!
If you are going to introduce your kids to quality film for children, you will truly go wrong if you don't just show them the classic....Mary Poppins.I've seen Emma Thompson in several movies: Henry V, Sense and sensibility, In the Name of the Father, Junior, and this piece of visual trash.....
For a peaceful life, I let them watch The Iron Giant instead (a superb film, by the way).The next night, not willing to take the opinion of a little girl as gospel, I sat down with my family to enjoy Nanny McPhee.
Yes, her friend had been right on the money: the film was utter garbage.Nanny McPhee attempts the impossible by challenging Mary Poppins for the title of 'top magical movie nanny'.
It tries extremely hard to be more enchanting, funnier, and more romantic than the Disney classic, but fails dismally on all counts (and considering Mary Poppins is far from my favourite kids film, that's saying something!).In this charmless, contrived and incredibly predictable piece of fantasy tosh, Colin Firth plays Mr. Brown, the widowed father of seven unruly children who have scared off seventeen nannies in a row with their dreadful behaviour.
Well, the first question is answered when buck-toothed, mono-browed marvel Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) turns up on his doorstep; with her magic stick, she can handle any problem thrown her way, and soon has the kids eating out of the palm of her hand.
Perhaps Evangeline (Kelly Macdonald), Mr. Brown's beautiful, young, charming, and devoted scullery maid (who gets on with his kids like a house on fire), might know someone suitable...Whilst I might not be Mary Poppins' biggest fan, at least that film had the delightfully yummy Julie Andrews to detract from its dodgy morality, a fairly likable couple of kids, and cheeky old 'cockerney' Dick Van Dyke to liven things up occasionally with a bit of energetic hoofin'; McPhee, on the other hand, has the rather plain Thompson (sporting grotesque make-up), some truly awful attempts at humour (a baby saying 'bum', a dancing donkey, and that tired old slapstick routine, the food-fight), and a group of children just begging for a sound thrashing.With its dreadful script (written by Thompson, who should stick to acting) leaving plenty of unanswered questions (where do the children get hold of a tarantula?
Then again it makes no difference since this is just a great movie that makes you smile from ear to ear and then some.Set at the end of the 19th century the plot has a Cedrick Brown (played by Colin Firth) trying desperately to keep his children safe and a roof over their heads.
It also has a bit of romance via the secret crush of Evangeline (Kelly MacDonald), the scullery maid, for Mr. Brown and vice versa.It brags a great supporting cast of veteran actors made up of Angela Lansbury as beak-nosed, frightful Great Aunt Adelaide, Imelda Staunton as the red-faced, wild-haired Mrs. Blatherwick, Celia Imrie as the garish and vulgar Mrs. Selma Quickly.Emma Thompson is brilliant as Nanny Mcphee who undergoes a radical physical change in conjunction with the family's progress.
There were only about 50 people in the theater (I saw this the third week out, I think, and the small audience tells a tale of what word-of-mouth has been).Emma Thompson is funny, talented, a fine actor, and a woman with enough baking to be able to try her hand at writing for children on a scale most beginning writers would never dream of.
All in all, a very enjoyable film, perhaps more for children, but adults will like the visuals and Emma Thompson.
The kids are all great, the father Colin Firth was perfect as the slightly scattered, well meaning and very in love with his children Dad.Emma Thompson can do a lot with a look and a word and the maid Kelly Macdonald is very beautiful and kind.The sets are fantastic, bright colourful and slightly bizarre, great eye candy.Everything about this movie, with the exception of the donkey scene perhaps was pure magic.
True, there are a few outrageous moments, and the characters do take situaitons to the extreme, but that should be expected in a world created by the lovely Emma Thompson.I don't believe in elaborating on plot and ruining the chances of someone being unable to experience a film on their own, but do watch, own, and encourage others to check out this film.When the film ended, I wanted more Nanny McPhee and (sad, but true) eagerly hope for her to return.
Wonderful family Fun. Whether or not you have kids, this film is magical.
Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson), a person of unsettling appearance and magical powers, enters the household of the recently widowed Mr. Brown (Colin Firth) and attempts to tame his seven exceedingly ill-behaved children.
Nanny McPhee is a fun, entertaining family movie incorporating a good dose of magic and period piece of a widowed father having to contend with a difficult brood of seven children.
I would even go as far to say that this movie is magical and I say that thanks to a very strong ending.Kirk Jone's film is about a recently-widowed father who has misbehaved children and they chase out any nanny who has been there.
Answering his plea for help, a Nanny McPhee decides to offer her services and with her five rules, the children will learn not to get on her wrong side.The acting is pretty good in this film as one would expect with Emma Thompson and Colin Firth as headliners.
Emma Thompson does a really good job as Nanny McPhee and she goes through a complete transformation over the course of the film.
Also, I'm certainly glad the kids are not annoying in this film, unlike most American films.Overall, Nanny McPhee turns out to be a magical film that is good for both children and adults.
NANNY McPHEE is not a perfect film for children or adults, but it does pass the time pleasantly with some gorgeous color photography that has to be seen to be believed.
Nanny McPhee is a movie you watch a hundred times and never get sick of.
The story follows the trials of Colin Firth's character trying to find a Nanny for his seven children (he even seems a little confused as to how he has so many), after the demise of his wife - which is never really explained in the movie.
My entire family enjoyed "Nanny McPhee" and I love to show films to my son that help him learn positive messages, yet are filled with great humor and talent.