Nanny McPhee- A Film for the Mischievous

“The nanny you need is Nanny McPhee.” Truly, it is easy to agree with this statement. Nanny McPhee delights and entertains children and their parents time and time again. (However, I am not advocating using television or movies as a babysitter.) A film for the whole family, Nanny McPhee uses humor and wit to tell the heartwarming story of a frustrated father and his seven mischievous children.

Don’t believe me? Check out this trailer!



With a cast including the talented Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, and Angela Lansbury, along with many endearing children such as Thomas Sangster, known for Love Actually, Nanny McPhee examines what happens after the 17th nanny in a row has left the Brown household. Coming in and acting against the children’s plans, Nanny McPhee teaches the children several lessons: to say please and thank you, to go to bed when they’re told, and even more lasting ones. Throughout however, is a story of how Cedric Brown (Colin Firth) is struggling to keep the family afloat after the death of his wife. Financial struggles force several sacrifices for the family, and how they deal with them provide touching moments.

The development of Nanny McPhee is an interesting story in itself. Screenwriter Emma Thompson and her production/screenwriting partner Lindsay Doran were looking for a new project when Thompson came across the English children’s books in the Nurse Matilda series. Written by Christianna Brand in the 1960s and 70s, the stories feature a magical nanny who teaches lessons to a group of misbehaved children. After spending five years working with an adaptation, Thompson and Doran began the process of getting the story to film, added director Kirk Jones, known for Waking Ned Devine.

Not only can the viewer look at the acting, screenplay, and storyline, the costuming and colorful sets are entrancing as well. As we see Nanny McPhee transform from a oddly shaped, hairy eyebrowed, moled person to a beautiful one, it is amazing to believe that that was Emma Thompson underneath.

Walking away from a viewing of Nanny McPhee leaves you with a smile and a warm feeling inside. Rather than simply transforming the family, as director Jones himself says, “She [Nanny McPhee] shows them that they’re already good.” Go in with an open mind, and you’ll leave reminding yourself that even the most mischievous people have a wonderful heart.