Nanny McPhee Returns Blu-ray Review
Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
Score: 67
from 3 reviewers
Review Date:
'Nanny McPhee Returns' delights young viewers with humor and charm, though it falls short on adult engagement despite excellent performances and near-perfect audio.
![Nanny McPhee Returns Blu-ray Front Cover](https://images.mightychroma.me/reviews/large_nanny_mc_phee_returns_blu_ray_front_0b52c86e69.jpeg)
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 75
Nanny McPhee Returns' on Blu-ray offers a generally strong VC-1 encoded 1080p transfer with robust color saturation, lifelike fleshtones, and excellent depth in both bright and dark scenes, though it occasionally falls short in studio shots and features some subpar CG elements.
Audio: 78
The Blu-ray of 'Nanny McPhee Returns' features an exemplary DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that leverages inventive sound design, clear dialogue, and an immersive surround experience. Highlights include the impactful LFE from Nanny's cane and dynamic ambient effects, making it a standout audio presentation for a family film.
Extra: 60
The Blu-ray extras of 'Nanny McPhee Returns' feature an informative commentary by director Susanna White, 12 insightful deleted scenes, six brief yet engaging featurettes covering aspects like makeup transformation and animal handling, BD-Live options, and the My Scenes bookmark feature, culminating in a solid supplementary package.
Movie: 67
Nanny McPhee Returns shines with whimsical charm and Maggie Gyllenhaal's standout performance, yet falters with an overreliance on clichéd plot mechanics and unfunny potty humor, diluting its magical allure and dramatic tension despite its visually appealing production design.
![Loading](https://images.mightychroma.me/content/xlarge_Mighty_Chroma_Square_Logo_0973ab8c2d.png)
Video: 75
The Blu-ray edition of "Nanny McPhee Returns" presents an exceptional visual experience overall. Encoded in VC-1 at 1080p with a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, the transfer captures high-definition details with resolute clarity and defining sharpness throughout. The film's long-range shots of the lush English countryside are particularly noteworthy for their natural light, well-saturated colors, and remarkable depth of field. Colors play a significant role in the storytelling, rendering with revealing delineation and tonal warmth. The greens of the countryside are especially lush and deep, while darker scenes benefit from stable blacks that offer good dynamic range and discernible gradational highlights.
However, it's worth noting that not all sequences maintain this high level of visual fidelity. Some studio footage appears a bit softer than the outdoor scenes, lacking the sharpness seen in its predecessor. Despite this, fine detail remains robust; fabrics and textures become immediate focal points during close-ups, where each thread in costumes and facial details such as pores, lines, and wrinkles are cleanly visible. The flesh tones come through lifelike and naturally pale, accurately reflecting the cast's complexions.
There are minor drawbacks, notably in the areas where CG effects are employed. The animated sequences, such as those depicting swimming pigs, look subpar and suffer from some aliasing issues, particularly in flyover shots. Despite these minor flaws and occasional instances of aliasing, other digital imperfections are minimal. The shadow delineation stands out with pristinely managed black levels that avoid crushing, ensuring a nearly flawless visual palette.
Overall, "Nanny McPhee Returns" delivers a visually engaging experience that adheres closely to the high standards expected from modern Blu-ray releases.
Audio: 78
The audio presentation of "Nanny McPhee Returns" on Blu-ray is exceptional, featuring a well-balanced and immersive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix. Although not aggressively dynamic, the surround sound provides substantive depth and engagement that enhances the whimsical nature of the film. The standout moments are undoubtedly those involving Nanny McPhee's magical cane. Each contact with the ground triggers a powerful LFE impact, creating a resonant bass wave that encapsulates the listener with an enveloping soundstage. Such instances provide a rich auditory experience that rivals even high-octane action movies.
Dialogue clarity is consistently top-notch, ensuring that even the subtlest whispers are cleanly rendered and easily discernible across the center channel. Ambient sounds frequently engage the rear channels with precise panning effects that contribute to a lively soundfield. This meticulous attention to directionality aids in accurately placing voices and actions within the mix, offering a more coherent audio landscape. Moreover, genre-specific foley effects, from piglet oinks to the chaotic sounds of children, are deftly integrated, providing a detailed and engaging auditory experience throughout.
The final sequence, particularly the magical transformation of the Green's wheat harvest, showcases the system’s full breadth with discrete ambient surround activity and authoritative bass response. Additionally, James Newton Howard's underscoring is impeccably mixed, balancing well with dialogue and sound effects without overshadowing them. Altogether, this audio track transforms "Nanny McPhee Returns" into an enthralling auditory feast, making it a standout among family films and bringing an unexpected level of auditory enjoyment to an otherwise kid-centric movie.
Extra: 60
The Blu-ray extras for "Nanny McPhee Returns" offer a moderately engaging supplement collection. The director Susanna White provides an insightful audio commentary, though the singular perspective can feel monotonous over time. The 12 deleted scenes, presented in high definition with explanatory titles, offer valuable context and even include an alternate opening. Six brief featurettes cover various aspects of the film's creation, from initial story development to makeup transformations and on-set fun with the child actors. Additional promotional content includes quick insights into specific elements such as the crow, Mr. Edelweiss, and the farm's muddy landscape. The inclusion of BD-Live offers streaming options for other films. These features collectively provide a deeper understanding of the film's production, though they lean heavily on promotional material.
Extras included in this disc:
- Commentary by director Susanna White: Informative yet can be monotonous.
- Deleted Scenes: 12 scenes with context and alternate opening.
- New film, new story: Featurette on story development.
- Magical moves: Insights into action scenes with child actors.
- Mr. Edelweiss: Focus on the movie's crow.
- Emma Thompson becomes Nanny McPhee: Makeup transformation process.
- The pigs: Featurette on the piglets.
- The mud: Behind-the-scenes of creating realistic mud.
- My Scenes bookmark feature: Allows bookmarking favorite scenes.
- Pocket Blu app: Companion app for mobile devices.
- BD-Live: Streaming options for additional movies, "Curious George" or "Beethoven's Big Break".
Movie: 67
"Nanny McPhee Returns" showcases Emma Thompson reprising her role as the magical nanny with impeccable charm and whimsy, arriving just in time to bring order to Isabel Green's chaotic household. The film, set during World War II, provides a nostalgic backdrop that adds emotional depth. Maggie Gyllenhaal shines as Isabel, lending a’ verisimilitude and emotional weight’ that enhances the narrative flow and offers a more engaging experience compared to its predecessor. The portrayal of Isabel as a steadfast, slightly overworked farm wife is both heartfelt and sincere, making the magical interventions by Nanny McPhee feel consequential within the story's whimsical stakes.
However, despite the captivating performances and occasional moments of genuine warmth, "Nanny McPhee Returns" does not completely escape the pitfalls of its genre. The plot is formulaic, often feeling like a retread of the first film's structure where unruly children are tamed by magical means. The film's attempts at humor rely heavily on exaggerated slapstick and an abundance of potty jokes—elements that might entertain younger viewers but risk alienating older audiences. The insertion of synchronized swimming piglets and other sundry absurdities often detracts from the narrative’s more tender moments, rendering parts of the film more farcical than enchanting.
Visually, the film maintains an effective (if less opulent than the first) production design. The Green farm is depicted with a charming dilapidation that contrasts starkly yet beautifully with some lovely countryside shots. The use of CGI, however, feels overdone at times, substituting genuine magical wonder with computer-generated gimmicks. While Emma Thompson’s script does inject moments of surprise and clever twists—supported by notable performances such as Maggie Smith’s portrayal of Mrs. Docherty—the film ultimately feels like a calculated exercise in family-friendly whimsy. Still, it manages to pull at heartstrings occasionally, especially through Gyllenhaal's evocative portrayal of a beleaguered mother, creating enough magical moments to keep its audience somewhat engaged.
Total: 67
"Nanny McPhee Returns" on Blu-ray offers an enjoyable experience primarily for its intended young audience, though it falls short in providing ample entertainment for accompanying adults. The film thrives on a comedic palette of juvenile humor—think synchronized swimming pigs and various bodily-function gags—which guarantees to captivate children. However, the attempt to balance this with more emotionally engaging content is only partially successful, despite a commendable performance by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The structured format of the McPhee franchise restrains the full potential of its cast, limiting the film's appeal to broader age groups.
Technically, the Blu-ray delivers impressively. The video quality exhibits crisp resolution and vibrant colors, maximizing the visual charm of its whimsical setting. The audio mix stands out with near-perfect clarity, enhancing both dialogue and score, which contributes significantly to the film’s overall atmosphere. The supplemental materials, while abundant, lean more towards promotional content rather than offering deep insights or behind-the-scenes revelations, which might disappoint those seeking more substantial bonus features.
In conclusion, "Nanny McPhee Returns" provides a delightful, if somewhat uneven, viewing experience. It is recommended for families with young children who will appreciate the humor and lively antics. Adults may find it less engaging but can still enjoy the charming performances and technical prowess. Despite its shortcomings in content depth and bonus features, the Blu-ray presentation itself is solid, making it a worthwhile addition to a family movie night.
Blu-ray.com review by Jeffrey KauffmanRead review here
Video: 80
Overall, fine detail is quite strong, there doesn't appear to be egregious DNR, and while clarity and sharpness may not rise to the excellent levels of the first installment, they're quite strong in and...
Audio: 100
But the film is full of inventive sound design which quite capably utilizes the surrounds, in everything from piglet oinks to the maddening screams of fighting children....
Extras: 50
Deleted Scenes (HD; 14:57) has some really good stuff, and each scene is prefaced by a brief explanatory title....
Movie: 70
As Mrs. Docherty, the incredible Miss Smith may be shunted to the sidelines for much of the film, expected to deliver a bit of slapstick�like sitting in a cow pie�that really is beneath her (no pun intended),...
Total: 70
This film boasts a stronger emotional pull than the first one did, due largely to the expressive performance of Maggie Gyllenhaal, but when you have actors working within the confines of such a structured...
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
It's true that the family in this one doesn't live in such oddly colored surroundings like in the first movie, but the colors here play a big part in the storytelling....
Audio: 80
The deep resonant bass produced is good as any action movie you've ever watched on the format....
Extras: 60
The deleted scenes even include an alternate opening, which actually explains more about the family's father and the jam that they made for their Dad....
Movie: 60
The first one is easy enough to love, this one requires some work on the viewer's part and that's a shame....
Total: 60
There's more sweetness than farts, but in the end the lame crudeness grow tiresome nonetheless....
AVSForumRead review here
Video: 90
High definition detail is readily apparent as images are firmly resolute with crisp edges, defining sharpness, and two dimensional depth that enhances dimension regardless of the camera's perspective....
Audio: 88
This isn't an aggressively dynamic or frequently immersive sound mix but for a film of its type I think the surround sound presentation is impressive....
Extras: 50
(HD) 12 deleted scenes (HD) New film, new story - 4 minute featurette (HD) Magical moves - 2 minute featurette (HD) Mr. Edelweiss - 2 minute featurette (HD) Emma Thompson becomes Nanny McPhee - make-up...
Movie: 70
Relying on everything from a flying motorcycle and a statue that comes to life, to a tree-climbing piglet and an elephant that turns up in the oddest places, Nanny McPhee uses her magic to show the children...
Total: 75
THX Ultra 2 Preamp/Video Processor Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier Oppo BDP-83 Universal disc/Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)...
Director: Susanna White
Actors: Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ralph Fiennes
PlotDuring wartime, Isabel Green struggles to manage the family farm with her three rambunctious children while her husband is away fighting. To make matters worse, her demanding and wealthy niece and nephew from the city come to stay with them, adding to the chaos. As the children's behavior spirals out of control, Isabel finds herself overwhelmed by the mounting pressure, and it seems like there's no end in sight to her problems. Just when she thinks she can't take any more, a mysterious and magical figure, Nanny McPhee, appears on her doorstep. Nanny McPhee uses her extraordinary abilities to instill discipline and order among the children. Through a series of enchanting and often humorous lessons, the kids gradually learn important values such as cooperation, kindness, and responsibility.
As the story progresses, Isabel faces additional challenges from her scheming brother-in-law, who is determined to sell the family farm for his own gain. Nanny McPhee's presence not only helps the children but also gives Isabel the confidence to stand up for herself and protect her family's legacy. Through teamwork, perseverance, and a little bit of magic, the children and Isabel find a way to save the farm and restore harmony. Along the way, they discover the importance of family, friendship, and believing in the impossible.
Writers: Emma Thompson, Christianna Brand
Release Date: 20 Aug 2010
Runtime: 109 min
Rating: PG
Country: United Kingdom, France, United States, Japan
Language: English