Nanny McPhee
Universal Pictures | Release Date: January 27, 2006
6.3
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 88 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
51
Mixed:
25
Negative:
12
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
6
OranC.Feb 2, 2006
This movie was pretty predictable, and didn't have the oomph you could tell it was supposed to have. An enjoyable experiance though, with colors and costumes to keep you interested.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
MarkK.Jun 2, 2007
Looking at the DVD box and the talented actors, one is expecting a good movie. Alas, it turned out to be predictable and too long. Our kids asked more than once when it would end -- not a good sign!
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
TroyH.Jun 21, 2006
It's not a bad movie. It's just not a very good movie either. This would have been better if it were more realistic. The impossible movie magic that that it uses, ruins the real magic it could have had.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
VickiJan 31, 2006
My 4 year old loved it, my 10 year old found it enjoyable but oh so predictable, and I sat there wishing I'd waited for it to come out on video.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
ChrissyFeb 11, 2006
Purely uninteresting for anyone over the age of 10. It makes little real sense, and certainly lacks an interesting plot. Don't worry about skipping this one everyone!
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
MarkB.Feb 14, 2006
You'd think that any children's movie that opens with cannibalism and decapitation (both pretend!) would rank as some kind of instant cult classic along the lines of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory or Time Bandits, but You'd think that any children's movie that opens with cannibalism and decapitation (both pretend!) would rank as some kind of instant cult classic along the lines of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory or Time Bandits, but you'd be disappointed at how quickly this slides into utter blandness. Despite its highly stylized, wildly colorful period sets (which look far more art-directed than actually lived-in) this adaptation of Christianna Brand's popular books comes off as...well, rather colorless. I'm sorry to report that a big portion of this falls right into the lap of adapter/star Emma Thompson, who despite playing a character with two warts, a set of eyebrows that makes Frida Kahlo look like Kate Moss, and a nose that makes Thompson appear to have frequently been on the winning end of a series of gin-guzzling contests with W. C. Fields, underplays the title character so much that she comes off as invisible as the hero's late wife, represented by an empty pink armchair. Said widower (Colin Firth), overwhelmed by the bucketload of kids he's not doing well at all at disciplining (although the double-digit broods recently seen onscreen in Yours Mine & Ours, Cheaper by the Dozen 2 and The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio make him seem like the Planned Parenthood poster boy by comparison), hires the mysterious, vaguely supernaturally gifted McPhee to instill some order; she not only does that but straightens out his prospects for Wife #2. Among screenwriter Thompson's and director Kirk Jones' sevewral unimaginative decisions is that of making the reduction or elimination of McPhee's facial oddities disappointingly literal: she loses a wart or other imperfection every time she accomplishes a job-related goal, but it would've been far more interesting to render this process a lot more ambiguous (did she really become prettier as she goes along or does it just SEEM that way to the kids because they've grown to love and respect her?) Curiously, the movie's best set piece by far is the one that doesn't involve McPhee at all--it's the cleverly timed sequence where the dad endeavors to protect the Would-Be Wife From Hell from all manner of slapstick sabotage aimed at her by the children. Part of this is because Celia Imrie is not only so much fun to watch and listen to as the predatory, mercenary marriage candidate, but appears to be the only cast member (yes, kids included) who really looks like she's having a good time. Undemanding family films like this are reminiscent of G-rated pablum like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that parents in the late 1960s took their children to, fervently wishing (either during the film or while excusing themselves for lobby smoke breaks) that ten or twelve movies could be shown in the same building so they could park the kids there while watching something provocative like Easy Rider or Midnight Cowboy. Oh well, if you've got YOUR kids for the afternoon, and Munich or Brokeback Mountain are playing at the same multiplex...… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
Tennisboy700Dec 26, 2013
Nanny McPhee an all round family movie for the family but some floors that did not impress my Squeamish brother. Another down side to this movie is the plot is around a slightly dark thought of a man who needs to marry or no rent fair enoughNanny McPhee an all round family movie for the family but some floors that did not impress my Squeamish brother. Another down side to this movie is the plot is around a slightly dark thought of a man who needs to marry or no rent fair enough but this movie scores a 5.5 out of 10 for its lack of fun and differences in the movie.Still if your looking for a good family movie to watch with a bowl of popcorn GO FOR IT.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
amheretojudgeDec 6, 2018
Jones's fatal attempts of creating a magical music number as Mary Poppins unfortunately fails on all levels in here.

Nanny McPhee Jones's fatal attempts of creating a magical music number as Mary Poppins unfortunately fails on all levels inJones's fatal attempts of creating a magical music number as Mary Poppins unfortunately fails on all levels in here.

Nanny McPhee

Jones's fatal attempts of creating a magical music number as Mary Poppins unfortunately fails on all levels in here. To what was supposed to play on props and create awestruck delightful moments with the kids, is instead left out dry and unexplored in here. This overly rotten out formulaic structure of the script is not only outdated but is so poorly conceived that it doesn't stand on its own grounds, it contradicts its own nature. The mythical aspects of the storyline that was supposed to attract the viewers, seems like is pretentious and a metaphor gone wrong case.

The reasons and concept may have a heart but that heart isn't pumping at all for either the viewers or the characters. The result is pure Sunday morning venture, you have seen this morning before too and the plans that it has for you is something that you are not looking forward to. Having said that, it doesn't suggest that there aren't any good bits in here. The usual sketchy sequences between the kids and a nanny, the tactics used by bratty mischievous kids and the gags that leads to the bonding of the kids to a newer member of the family, somehow in its giddy nature works like a charm.

Thomson as the nanny herself who also co-wrote the script, is a delight to watch, her caring nature with productive methods and impressive tricks up her sleeve, elevates the momentum and raises the bar of the feature. On the supporting cast, the younger cast has decently managed to stay on the track along with Firth as the man in charge and Macdonald as the driver, who are convincing on their roles. Nanny McPhee is the perfect gift for your kids but only up till its first half, the second half is a big old sobbing mess.… Expand
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