Colin Firth 24/7

by Jesslala

Good Heavens, they ate the baby!!!!  From the look on their faces, I really believed the children had eaten the baby!  And, thus, Nanny McPhee begins.  Immediately my senses were awakened by the loud colors of the set design and costumes.  Every character seemed to be over-the-top-cartoonish to me at first, but, as I settled in and let the story unfold, I found that everything was exactly as it should be.  

Mr. Brown (Colin Firth) is a recently widowed father, who is having trouble coping with his seven extremely bright, but very mischievous children, and who are determined to rid themselves of every nanny he hires.  In desperation, he hires Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson), who comes into his life very mysteriously.  How does she know to come?  Whose wish is actually being answered? Hmmmmm?  

Not only is Nanny McPhee terribly ugly she most definitely does not use a spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down.  She has five lessons to teach, which will change everyone.  

Not knowing that their Great Aunt Adelaide (Angela Lansbury) has declared that she will no longer provide monthly support to their father unless he marries by the end of the month, the children do not understand why it is so important for him to find a wife.  They are angry that he is so preoccupied and that he no longer spends any time with them.  What transpires is a series of very outrageous attempts to get rid of Nanny McPhee, and to scare away the widowed Mrs. Quickly (Celie Imrie), the woman to whom Mr. Brown will propose.  At the same time, Mr. Brown is attempting to keep the children from scaring her away and keeping Aunt Adelaide from taking one of his children. 

The other members of the household that are also affected by the goings on are the scullery maid, Evangeline (Kelly Macdonald), who has secret longings for Mr. Brown, and who sees good in his children, and Mrs. Blatherwick (Imelda Staunton), the frazzled cook.

As the lessons are learned, Nanny McPhee?s appearance begins to change.  Or does her appearance begin to change as they learn to care for Nanny McPhee?   Are the five lessons named the only ones the family learns?  Hmmmmm? 

Emma Thompson plays Nanny McPhee in a very still manner which is very effective.  Colin Firth is wonderful playing both the comic and dramatic aspects his role, that of a father who loves his children and misses his wife so much, and who can't cope with his situation.  Angela Lansbury, as the domineering aunt, is terrific.  Celie Imrie looks like a strawberry parfait and is perfect as the scheming would-be fiancé.   Kelly MacDonald, Derek Jacobi, and all of the children are excellent.

I had the good fortune to see this movie at a theater screening filled with adults, and children of various ages.  It was interesting to observe who laughed and when.  I was surprised that the kids didn't laugh at the bad behavior of the children as much as the adults did.  The children were totally engrossed throughout and loved the slapstick scenes such as: Mr. Brown falling down the stairs, Widow Quickly eating a worm sandwich, the dancing donkey, and the food fight, which made them scream with laughter.  They also loved the snowy magic of the wedding scene.  The adults laughed at the very witty dialogue.  The running gag of Nanny McPhee suddenly showing up in Mr. Brown?s den always got laughs from everyone.     

Applause!  Applause!  Applause!