Nanny McPhee & the Big Bang [G]

5 children from opposite worlds. No sharing and plenty of fighting. One extremely frazzled mother. Serious help is needed. Nanny McPhee is back, and she hears you've been naughty.

I absolutely loved the first Nanny McPhee movie. I've described it as the best nanny-movie since Mary Poppins. Now Emma Thompson revisits the warts, enlarged tooth, and false nose to teach more naughty children some lessons.

Set during World War 2, this film follows the Green family. Three children and one frazzled mother, all trying desperately to keep their farm from going under whilst their father is fighting in the war effort. As if this is not enough, due to bombs dropping in London, the Green's cousins are set to come and stay with them. Arriving a day early, the cousins, who are quite rich and high up in society, are shocked to discover that they are coming to live on a farm surrounded by animals and lots of poo. Establishing a hate relationship with each other, the children set out to make the other's life a living hell. Now it's up to Nanny McPhee to teach these children a valuable lesson.

I found this Nanny McPhee movie very different from the first. The lessons were learnt really quickly and there was a ridiculous amount of open magic. It all got a little silly, and then that thing with the crow who eats window putty, I really didn't understand that. Not that it wasn't fun to watch. The children are fantastic little actors, especially the boy who played the London cousin. He was brilliant.

Emma Thompson revisited the role of Nanny McPhee, but I think even she was different in this movie. I don't know, there was something very un-Nanny McPhee about the whole thing. Not like the first one at all.

Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Mrs Green and she was wonderful. I really do like Maggie, I think she is one of the most beautiful actresses working.

Along with other familiar faces such as Rhys Ifans, Bill Bailey, Maggie Smith, Ralph Fiennes, and Ewan McGregor, Nanny McPhee & the Big Bang was a cute family movie that gains a smile and some laughs from any audience member. Not at all as good as the first movie though.