This is a masterpiece. It moves from the visually entertaining to the profound. The characters start the movie as cardboard props for a few song and dance routines. Some of the routines are great. Some are trivial. As the film concludes there is real pathos: the father abandons his autocratic ways and becomes human, uniting his family. The final song is no longer an exercise in showmanship. It is truly profound. Mary Poppins's final line, "That's as it should be," reveals the purpose of her magic. The ending is very satisfying.
The drama in the film is wonderfully unsentimental. I could not imagine a film made today that deals with a dysfunctional family and renewal without being sentimental. The understatement and light-hearted tone while making a strong moral point is what makes the film a masterpiece.
The drama in the film is wonderfully unsentimental. I could not imagine a film made today that deals with a dysfunctional family and renewal without being sentimental. The understatement and light-hearted tone while making a strong moral point is what makes the film a masterpiece.