She returns

It took 54 years, but we finally have a sequel to “Mary Poppins” flying into theaters this week. I am pleased to report that while “Mary Poppins Returns” predictably pales in comparison to the original movie, it’s still a delightful bit of holiday entertainment.

The film is a loving recreation of everything that made the first film so special. The problem is that some young audiences may find it to be a bit too old fashioned for their contemporary tastes. This is one of those movies that will make mom and dad happy, while their kids may want to sneak over and see the cooler movies like “Bumblebee” or “Aquaman” in the theater next door.

The story brings Mary (Emily Blunt) back to London just in time to help the now-grown Jane and Michael Banks (Emily Mortimer and Ben Whishaw) as they face eviction from the family home. As was the case in the first film, Mary signs on as the nanny and escorts Michael’s children through a series of magical adventures, all of which are filled with big song and dance numbers.

These musical sequences are a lot of fun, although the songs aren’t that memorable. Only the lamplighter number, “Trip a Little Light Fantastic” gets close to the quality of the music from the first film. The rest are mostly energetic but forgettable numbers that shine because of a game cast and some great animated effects work.

Here, “Mary Poppins Returns” outshines the original. The filmmakers have taken great care to make this film look like the original, and they absolutely succeed. Once again, some of this 2D animation may seem boring by today’s standards, but true fans will get a nostalgic kick from many of the visual images.

Fans should also enjoy Emily Blunt in the title role, and Lin-Manuel Miranda playing the lamplighter who is always ready to give Mary a helping hand. Blunt has a wonderful singing voice and she is very good in channeling Julie Andrews’ performance. Miranda is great at bringing energy to the screen, plus his British accent is pretty good.

That’s more than can be said for Dick Van Dyke.

All of which adds up to a very family-friendly movie. Perhaps it’s a bit too saccharine at times, but you’ve got to love a wholesome movie filled with actors who just want to entertain and filmmakers who will stop at nothing to fill the screen with a never-ending barrage of amazing images.

The good-but-not-great music is the only thing that keeps me from saying that “Mary Poppins Returns” is practically perfect in every way. Let’s hope that we don’t have to wait another 54 years before we get another sequel.