Between Books - Mary Poppins & Mary Poppins Comes Back

 

For years I have had a copy of Mary Poppins & Mary Poppins Comes Back by P.L. Travers sitting on my Between Books shelf, but I have never had a chance to read it.  Recently, I decided to pick it up and dive into the story that was a key Disney movie moment.  As I read through it, I realized how factual another semi-fictional Disney film actually was and the challenge this story presented. 

Mary Poppins & Mary Poppins Comes Back by P.L. Travers collects the first two books of Travers' Mary Poppins series.  The titles consist of a series of short stories detailing the interactions between the magical nanny Mary Poppins and the four, yep four, Banks children.  The characters will feel familiarish to anyone who has seen the Poppins films.  And the stories will occasionally remind one of the movies as we travel into China bowls or visit a laughing uncle.  But overall, the stories are generally not connected and provide short incidents, which are often confusing and nonsensical, with the Banks children.

When we hear the story of the Disney movie, we are told that Walt's children loved these stories.  But to be honest, I did not.  They really are confusing at times and I often feel like the characters are not that approachable.  If anything, reading through these makes it clear how factual Saving Mr. Banks is, as it would have been impossible to make a straight adaptation of this writing into an engaging movie.  In short, the Travers' stories had to be adapted, and the Sherman Brothers and Don DaGradai did an excellent job taking random stories and connecting them together.  For example, the presence of Mr. Banks is somewhat invisible in the book, and the choice to make him the antagonist helps string together a watchable movie.  Ironically, at the same time, I was reading this Between Book, I also started listening to the Sherman Brothers series on the Disney History Institute podcast which focused on the facts of Saving Mr. Banks and describes the actual adaption of the book into a movie.  

In short, I was disappointed by Mary Poppins & Mary Poppins Comes Back.  I will not read any more of the series.  it is not for me.  But I also better understand the challenge that Walt Disney and his team faced when creating a classic movie. 

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Mousey Movie Review - Saving Mr. Banks

To say I liked Saving Mr. Banks is an understatement.  I have  seen it twice now, and on my dime each time.  And both times I thoroughly enjoyed this story about P.L. Travers the author of Mary Poppins and her struggles, both spiritually and creatively, in bringing her famous nanny to life.

The film stars Emma Thompson as Travers, an accomplished actress who has taken a turn in a Mary Poppins like role in the delightful Nanny McPhee and its sequel(s).  Tom Hanks, Woody of the Toy Story franchise and cough cough future Disney legend, plays Walt Disney himself.  The film jumps between two settings.  The first is a two week period in 1961, where Disney's team of the Sherman Brothers and scriptwriter Don DaGradi worked directly with Travers to flesh out the script for a possible Mary Poppins at the Disney Studio.  The second is flashbacks to Travers' childhood in Australia, where the audience learns that the Mary Poppins' story has a deeper meaning to Travers.  This story is based on real events, so audiences need to keep the perspective that some scenes in this Mousey Movie are either fictional or occurred at another time:

• The Evil Queen: Emma Thompson is wonderful!  She makes you forget that she is an actress.  She makes you hate Travers (okay I may have been pre-disposed to that), and she is also able to make you feel for the Travers' character.  She really should receive the accolades that she has been receiving for this role.  But Tom Hanks does an excellent job also.  I know many have mocked his mustache, but I have looked at this role as Hanks the actor not mimicking Disney but portraying Disney.  So I did not need or want Hanks to be a body double, I wanted him to act.  And he does a great job researching the role and portraying a Missouri born business mogul.  But it is likely Paul Giamatti as the chauffeur Ralph who steals the movie and provides it heart.  Honestly, this entire cast does a great job!

• King of the Forest: There are plenty of moments that will thrill the Disney fanboy.  These include a ton of Disney plush, pretending to be with the Sherman brothers as they compose their classic works and reproductions of concept art for Mary Poppins.  My favorite moments are digging around Walt's working office.  Here my favorite item is a picture from Marceline from Walt and Roy O. Disney's visit to their hometown.  My other favorite moment is when DaGardi announces to the boys that Walt is coming using the Bambi based code phrase for the boss is coming, after Disney gives his warning cough of course.  Really a lot of this story is about a culture clash, between the very proper Mrs. Travers and call we Walt, Mr. Disney.  And the film does a great job of showing that culture including the use of first names, which Walt insisted on.  

• Let It Go:  Okay Disney fans to quote Princess Elsa, "Let it go!"  Yes, when Disney and Travers go to Disneyland, you can see the computers of the modern ticket machines.  And yes, the Mickey walk-around character is vintage, but Pluto looks a little too modern.  Yes, it's true, you should not see the sign for Pinocchio's Daring Journey as they ride the King Arthur Carousel.  I do have a background in history, so I am the guy who bored all my friends and family with facts about Braveheart instead of just enjoying it.  So if I can let it go, you can too.  Seriously, the cold never brothered me anyway.          

• Daddy Day: An emotional touchstone of this movie is that Walt Disney explains that bringing Mary Poppins to light is to fulfill a promise to his daughters, a promise that he had spent 20 years pursuing.  In his office there are pictures of both Diane and Sharon Disney, and he uses their images to underscore his desire to make this film.  I have decided in the movie premiere scene at the end that the young lady walking with a tall handsome man is Walt's daughter Diane Disney Miller and husband Ron Miller.  In my mind, I have decided this closes the circle on the promise.  Additionally, those who wait until the very end will see this film is dedicated to Diane Disney Miller who passed away shortly before the release date of this film.  And yes, I shed a little tear as I wondered what she would have thought of Hanks' portrayal of her father. 

• Fathers and Daughters: The story of P.L. Travers is really not about her struggle with Walt Disney, it is her struggle to remember her father.  As a dad, this story was very meaningful for me as I tried to imagine what my own children will remember about me.  I did take the Between Tween to my second showing, and the movie lead to plenty of discussions about childhood, creativity and familial love.  Oh, and there were tears, so many tears!  This movie is not fluff!  It gives you something to mull over.

Saving Mr. Banks is a wonderful story that Disney and non-Disney fans should see.  Of course, as a Disney fan I fully supported Walt on the screen in his quest to create his classic.  But I feel this story based on the real events were fair to both Travers and Disney.  Even Walt Disney expresses support for Travers' position at one point.  And as a Disney fan, I smiled as I watched them depict Richard Sherman singing to Walt his favorite song, "Feed the Birds" for the very first time.  The Disneyland scenes and studio scenes created huge excitement for me, especially since I visited both during the summer of filming.  Honestly, I as a Disney fan wanted and needed to like this film.  But as a movie fan, I love Saving Mr. Banks.

Honestly, this short review barely touches all my thoughts on this Mousey Movie, which you need to go see if you have not taken it in yet!

I should warn you, you will want to go straight home and watch Mary Poppins!

Mousey Movies - The Santa Clause 3

Since its 2006 release I have typically described The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause as a cash grab.  It just seemed like everyone was making one more grab at the good Santa money.  And it was a financial success, though a critical bomb.  The film lacked the charm one finds in the original, charm based on the happy accident of something truly wonderful being discovered.  But this year’s required viewing had made me soften.  There are still funny lines that make me belly laugh like a bowl full of jelly.  And the story has some edge to it in the villain of Jack Frost played by Martin Short.  And loving the franchise, there is some storytelling that I just noticed for the first time this year that pays off for the fan.  For example, it is only this year that I realized that the clothing choice of Neil played by Judge Reinhold in one scene tells us he has lost all his joy.  His choice of a professional and drab sports coat and sweater instead of his trademark colorful sweaters that Tim Allen’s Scott Calvin constantly mocks lets you know that his character has been broken by the problems of life.

Scott Calvin in the third film of the series has problems.  He has to balance the yearly rush of Christmas at the same time that Mrs. Claus nears the due date of their first child.  The demands of the new head elf Curtis pulls him between family and work.  To help provide relief to Mrs. Claus he brings the in-laws to the North Pole played by Alan Arkin and Ann Margret.  Of course they do not approve of the toy man who has taken their daughter away to “Canada.”  The pressure of keeping the Secret of Santa only adds to the pressure that Calvin feels.  Finally, Jack Frost sabotages Santa’s efforts to succeed at home and work.  Eventually Frost’s efforts lead to an It’s a Wonderful Life type sequence where Scott learns what would have happened to the ones he loved and himself if he had never pulled on the red coat.

There are no hidden Mickey’s in The Santa Clause 3 like we find in The Santa Clause 2.  But there are scenes lifted directly from the original The Santa Clause, which really tickles me as we see them from a new perspective.  Overall, this may be the most Mousey of all the movies in this franchise as it attempts to satirize the House of Mouse:

·        The Meanest One of All:  Jack Frost is the face of evil.  No really, he is a really horrible legendary figure.  He makes choices that have mortal consequences to beloved characters and he shows little to no remorse about it!  The Between Kid actually screamed and yelled, “I don’t like him,” as Frost was being almost murderous.  Additionally Frost is all about himself and ruins Christmas in a manner that only glorifies him and makes elves incredibly sad!  Yeah kids, beware Jack Frost.

Martin Short plays this villain and is highly familiar to Epcot fans.  Short originally starred in the 1989 film The Making of Me at the Wonders of Life pavilion.  The film discussed how Short’s parents met, got married, and made a baby!  I am kind of glad that I never had to watch this film with the Between Kids, and field the questions that it might inspire, with the closing of the pavilion in 2007.  In 2008 Short moved to the Canada pavilion to narrate the O’ Canada film where Short shares about his native country.  Short has also been part of a number of Disney releases including Jungle 2 Jungle with Tim Allen, Treasure Planet, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure, Frankenweenie, and Touchstone Pictures releases Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride II; placing Short in live-action, animated, theatrical and direct to video projects.   

·        Carpet Bagger:  In a scene that has to be a tribute to Mary Poppins, Scott when visiting the Miller family digs around in a carpet bag.  It’s clear as he reaches in with much more arm than he should that the bag’s inside is bigger than the outside.  This effect is helped by the sound of crashing objects and farm animals in the bag!  The object he pulls out as a gift for his son Charlie, much like Mary Poppin’s hat rack, is much bigger than the bag itself. 

·        Theme Parks:  The most Mousey moment in the movie is the North Pole’s transformation from a workshop into a Disneyland style resort.  The North Pole Resort may remind many of visits to Disney parks with crowds, overpriced merchandise to buy everywhere, staff hiding behind forced smiles and crying children wanting more more more.  Yes, it is all the bad things one might expect from a theme park gone bad.  Instead of looking at the North Pole Resort as a satire on the reality of a Disney parks experience, I look at it as all of our bad experiences at once!  It makes sense.  Disneyland and other Disney parks create magic.  The North Pole Resort perverts magic instead, much like the days that heat and tiredness may make families grumpy! 

·        O’ Canada:  Speaking of Canada, the North Pole with the arrival of the in-laws is transformed into Santa’s very own Canada pavilion.  The signage and set design honestly makes me laugh, with signs that make sure you understand you are in Canada, not the North Pole or Epcot.

·        Buddy:  Liliana Mumy returns to her second Santa Clause film as Lucy Miller, or the cute human kid replacement for Charlie.  Lucy has a big warm heart, somewhat different than her character Mertle Edmonds in the animated Lilo & Stitch, Stitch! The Movie, and Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch.  Mertle is spoiled and has a cold heart!  I chose team Lilo!  Mumy also voices the puppy Rosebud in the live action Snow Buddies, Space Buddies, and SantaBuddies where she again addresses snow and Santa!  Ironically, the name Buddy is found not just in the non-Disney movie Elf but the ending of this jolly franchise.

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause is my least favorite in the Santa trilogy.  But Tim Allen still continues to satisfy me as a regular guy struggling with being a family man and the spirit of Christmas.  This installment is also darker than the others as Calvin fights not himself or a plastic doppelganger but an external villain who has no problem terrorizing others.  The film’s story with The North Pole Resort was directly inspired by Mickey’s home, where like Santa you can visit the Mouse in his home!  So even if they were trying to subtly attack their Mousey Masters, they made the film very Mousey. 

Between Books - My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business

Dick Van Dyke in My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business reminisces on his life and career as an entertainer.  Van Dyke chronicles his early years as a boy growing up in Illinois, a boy who showed an aptitude for performing.  Van Dyke recounts childhood, years as a young man serving in the military, early jobs in entertainment on radio and as a television host.  Van Dyke’s big break came with his role of Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie.  This play led to his introduction with Carl Reiner and his breakout role as Rob Petrie on the Dick Van Dyke Show from 1961 to 1966.  This role led to other opportunities including as Bert in Mary Poppins.  Constantly threatening retirement, Van Dyke continued a prolific acting career on television and the big screen that continues after the 2011 publication date of My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business.  Along with his professional career, Van Dyke details his family life including his alcoholism, divorce from his first wife, relationship with long time partner Michelle Triola, and the death of his oldest grandchild due to Reye’s Syndrome. 

This review is of the audio version of the book.  And honestly the format probably increased my enjoyment.  As an audio book read by Van Dyke you both feel like you are engaged in an actual conversation with a joyful man.   And Van Dyke is able to not only read but perform for you his book.  And Van Dyke is truly a delight!  The content itself is an easy listen, and would likely be an easy read.  But I think in the print form I would find myself more critical of his mistakes, such as calling the U.S. Army Air Corps the Air Force, and I did not seek out glaring omissions.  In the audio format it is truly Van Dyke’s story as told by Van Dyke.  And you simply don’t have the heart to interrupt or correct him as he tells you of his life. 

I was overall surprised by the content.  You discover that Van Dyke at one time planned to become a pastor.  This reveals an unexpected spiritual side of Van Dyke.  He paints himself as a man who puts a large value in the power of love.  And I was not aware of his battles with alcohol, including how he used his work to help battle this demon.  The text also reminded me of a time when television network movies had a greater impact on society than I believe occurs today.  But I was also disappointed, Van Dyke has led a full life so the sections I wanted to hear the most about run past at a fast pace.  His discussion on Mary Poppins is too short for my liking.  Of course that is me the Disney fan wanting an entire disc, or maybe two, to cover this seminal movie.  I did enjoy him recounting his experience having to audition for the role of Mr. Dawes Senior for Walt Disney.  And he clearly hated working on wires!   

Van Dyke clearly has a viewpoint where he sees things in only the most positive way.  He jokes as he opens that the fact that he was born out of wedlock is the only real controversy in his life.  To others that may seem as a strange statement.  Van Dyke as an adult struggled with addiction.  In  the 1970’s the family friendly Van Dyke both separated from his wife, who he did not divorce until the 1980s, but also started a long-term relationship with Triola.  Triola had recently completed a long term relationship with actor Lee Marvin, who she was suing for palimony a completely new concept at the time.  And some of his professional choices caused a stir, such as controversy  in the 1970s on The New Dick Van Dyke Show that hinted his on-screen son accidentally witnessed his television parents being intimate.  But for events some may see as controversy, Van Dyke just seems to view as life.    

Overall, I am glad I listened to this book instead of reading it.  As an audio book it was both a performance and a conversation.  But as a book it lacked the Disney specific content I would want to add to my personal Between Books library.  Still, Van Dyke is a treasure and his spirit of joy is infectious especially when one can hear it in his voice.