Review: 'Saving Mr. Banks'

For as long as I can remember, I've always loved Walt Disney (no surprise there, as most of us do). And I love Tom Hanks as well. But when I first heard Mr. Hanks would be playing Mr. Disney in this film, I didn't really think he could pull off that sort of charismatic innocence that Disney himself could emanate. Thankfully, I was wrong and reminded why Tom Hanks is such a great actor. For the most part of the film, I could see Walt Disney himself brought back to life.

'Mary Poppins' is one of my favorite Disney films of all time, and yet it came very close to never seeing the light of day. P.L. Travers, played wonderfully by Emma Thompson, is the author of the 'Mary Poppins' books. Her books are loved and cherished by many around the world, including Walt Disney himself. So much so that he's committed himself to adapting the stories as one of his films. But Travers, being the eccentric, self-centered author she is, won't allow it.

People are calling the film 'aggressively sentimental' and too sweet. Well, frankly, we're missing that in films these days. What I don't understand is today's notion that if the world we live in is harsh and cruel, then most of the movies need to be that way as well. Hollywood feels they need to be edgy and gritty to get a wider audience. Wasn't there a time, long ago, when we entered a movie theatre expecting to leave all of our troubles behind us for a couple of hours? Or to feel a reassurance of the majesty that is still left out there in the world? Yes, it was the time when the events in this particular movie, 'Saving Mr. Banks', took place. What comes across on screen is a movie filled with wonderful gags and charms that only a Disney movie can pull off and not be looked down upon for it as much. The blending of both drama and light-hearted humor is also balanced really well in the film, with flashbacks to Travers's troubled childhood, and then the present whimsical times with Disney.

This film brought back many wonderful memories of being a kid again: Going to Disneyland for the first time at the age of 7, or hearing certain family members share their Disney memories (my uncle was a little boy when Walt Disney approached him and a group of kids to shake their hands at Disneyland). Or browsing through a book about Walt Disney for the first time and of me wanting to grow up and work in the movie business. Big memories, little memories, all memories worth cherishing.

I loved how this film, 'Saving Mr. Banks', emphasized how important the making of 'Mary Poppins' was to Walt Disney. Especially with making the author, P.L. Travers, pleased with what he has done for her life's work. Extra care and respect was laid upon the subject, despite how difficult it would get. In many respects, I'm sure that's why 'Mary Poppins' has stood out to many generations of audiences more than any other Live Action Disney films.

My rating: 3.5 / 4