‘Nanny McPhee’

By Harry Forbes
Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Mary Poppins was a pushover compared to the snaggletoothed, bulbous-nosed governess portrayed in "Nanny McPhee" (Universal).

The story is set in Victorian England, where Mr. Brown (Colin Firth), a befuddled mortician, has been widowed and left to raise seven children. Thinking their father doesn't love them anymore, they've become little hellions.

Brown has exhausted every nanny in town, the last one leaving in horror when she falls for the prank that her wards have eaten their baby sibling!

Also in the never-dull household is Evangeline (Kelly MacDonald), a sweet-natured servant girl who shares an unspoken mutual love with Brown, and ex-military cook Mrs. Blatherwick (Imelda Staunton), a favorite target for the children's mischief.

In the mortuary, Brown is assisted by the comical busybodies Mr. Wheen (Derek Jacobi) and Mr. Jowls (Patrick Barlow).

At his wits' end, Brown receives supernatural signs that he needs the services of one Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson), and one night, that sinister, warty woman reports for duty out of the blue.

" 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," she announces portentously.

The brood attempts to sabotage her, but McPhee, whose walking stick possesses magical powers, gets the better of them.

In short order, she teaches them to say "please" and "thank you," go to bed early, get up on time and, in general, become model children. (As each lesson is learned, their metamorphosis is mirrored in McPhee becoming more attractive.)

But Brown can barely make ends meet, and the imperious Great Aunt Adelaide (Angela Lansbury), insists that Brown marry within the month or she will withdraw her financial support -- which would mean his children would be taken away. Meanwhile, Adelaide insists she will take one of the young girls away to be raised and tutored, striking horror into the Brown clan.

The comically dreadful Mrs. Quickly (Celia Imrie), a Restoration-style harpy with a mop of sunflower hair, is Brown's only option, since of course he and Evangeline are too shy (and class-conscious) to declare their affection.

McPhee can't rid them of this potential stepmother, as she doesn't interfere with "matters of the heart." But as you might imagine, several life lessons later all is eventually set right.

Thompson has written the screenplay for this adaptation of Christianna Brand's "Nurse Matilda" books, and the enterprise has been directed with the right balance of humor and whimsy by Kirk Jones.

The plot is wildly derivative -- "Mary Poppins," "Lemony Snicket," "The Sound of Music" and "My Fair Lady" rolled into one -- but no less enjoyable for that. And the sweet tale is touching, well acted by its solid British cast and the fairy-tale ambience is successfully sustained.

Some very mild innuendo when Brown courts Quickly, and a couple of remarks about incest, which will go over most kids' heads, preclude recommendation for very young children.

Otherwise, this candy-hued fable is delightful viewing and imparts admirable messages about the primacy of family and the inherent goodness of people.

The film contains some innuendo, mild bad language, rude humor, innocuous shots of cadavers, and macabre childish pranks. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

* Forbes is director of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.