A nanny that’s Mary Poppins on the inside and horror movie on the outside “Nanny McPhee” has a face that looks like a car accident but the right type of magic to rein in seven very naughty children. Their dad Cedric Brown (Colin Firth) is a windower without a clue and his children rule the roost. After going through a series of nannies they finally meet their match when Ms. McPhee (Emma Thompson who also wrote the witty screenplay) shows up on their doorstep. Mr. Brown hires Nanny McPhee in hopes that she’ll bring enough order to his life to allow him to marry within 30 days. If he doesn’t he’ll lose the stipend he receives from his late wife’s aunt (Angela Lansbury delicious evil) and his children. ***

On the surface “Nanny McPhee” looks about as unappealing as the titular character but the film is alive with sharp direction, stunning cinematography that captures and releases the pop art colors all over the place. While it won’t make you forget Thompson’s more popular adult films, “Nanny McPhee” provides distracting entertainment and won’t embarrass the adults. Thompson gives a winning performance as the ugliest woman on Earth and Firth is delightfully charming as the inept Brown. Sprinkled with winning supporting performances “Nanny McPhee” won’t make you forget Disney’s popular classic film “Mary Poppins” but a splendid time is guaranteed fo r all.

Image & Sound:

Available separately in an anamorphic widescreen and full screen presentation “Nanny McPhee” looks gruesome (that’s good) in this terrific transfer. Digital flaws are kept to a minimum while analog flaws are nonexistent. The audio presented in a crisp, clear 5.1 mix sounds terrific. ---

Here’s where the magic for this DVD beings with some truly terrific extras. “Nanny McPhee Makeover” shows us how to make someone beautiful into someone ugly as we follow Emma Thompson’s make up transformation for the movie. “Casting the Children” provides a brief glimpse into the challenges of finding actors that will convince without resorting to cheap directorial tricks to make them convincing.” How Nanny McPhee Came to Be” provides the American audience with background on the popular children’s books involving Nurse Matilda by Christina Brand that provided the inspiration for the film. We also get seven deleted scenes with an introduction by director Kirk Jones explaining his reasoning behind deleting them. His explanations make perfect sense once you watch the scenes themselves including a tongue-in-cheek alternate opening. A funny gag reel is included as well.

Two commentary tracks are very different and fun to listen to. One track is a delight the other a delightful aural mess also highlight his set. The first involves producer/writer/star Emma Thompson and co-producer Lindsay Doran. Thompson and Doran are entertaining but also informative with a nuts and bolts discussion on the challenges of making the film. They should count themselves lucky they weren’t paired with the children like director Jones was in the second audio commentary track. Director Jones and the ensemble cast of children providing a funny, charming and messy commentary track. The child ren constantly interrupt each other and provide other unintentionally entertaining antics as well. ---

Final Words: