There’s no doubt about it. Meryl Streep is “practically perfect in every way” in Mary Poppins Returns, Rob Marshall’s original musical sequel to the Disney classic, Mary Poppins.

Adapted from P. L. Travers’s original Mary Poppins book series, this reboot brings Mary Poppins (played by Emily Blunt) back into the lives of the grown Banks children, just when they (and their children) need her most.

So many women in the Sixty and Me community watched the original Mary Poppins as children, or, shared this magical film with their children. I just hope that our grandkids love the remake as much as we loved the original! It’s sure to be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

See the official trailer here:

A Twist of Fate

Described as “one of her most whimsical character creations yet,” by Vanity Fair Magazine, Streep returns to the big screen as Topsy, the eccentric and overly excited cousin of Mary Poppins that lives in a world of upside-downs and opposites. Her positive and exuberant outlook helps to twist the Bank family’s perspective and bring back the joy and hopefulness they’ve been missing.

Perspectives are not all that are twisting in this film, however. In Travers’s novels, Topsy-Turvy was the maid-turned-wife of the nanny’s unconventional and peculiar cousin, Arthur. However, for the film adaptation, Marshall flipped genders and allowed Topsy to be the extravagant and whimsical lead in her upside-down world.

A Message Worth Sharing

Rediscovering hope is the underlying message throughout Travers’s original book series. Reportedly, Streep cheerfully embraces the message of optimism in this film, calling it a “gift” to the world, as she brings her own joy and laughter to the screen and into our hearts.

And why shouldn’t she? She makes sharing unending possibilities and grand adventures with families world-wide look like jolly good fun!

As Mary Poppins brings the Bank family to Topsy’s flip-flopped world for a visit, Streep performs an original song written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Disney is staying tight-lipped on releasing any further details of Streep’s quirky character.

In Good Company

Streep isn’t the only Hollywood icon to appear in this star-studded film. A 92 year-old Dick Van Dyke will return to this sequel, playing Mr. Dawes, Jr, a board member at the London bank, son of Mr. Dawes, Sr, a secondary role played by Van Dyke in the original Mary Poppins movie.

While Van Dyke needed prosthetics to achieve his elderly look when the original movie was filmed 54 years ago, the actor needed little help duplicating the exact same look this time around. Lest anyone worry about his performance at such an advanced aged, the spry and agile Van Dyke returns to the screen dancing as enthusiastically and energetically as ever.

Angela Lansbury also appears in the reboot as the Balloon Lady, an older character from Travers’s second book who lives in a park and uses balloon magic to send her friends flying.

Do you remember watching the original Mary Poppins film or sharing it with your kids? Are you excited to see Mary Poppins Returns? What is your favorite Meryl Streep movie character? Let’s have a chat!