"NANNY McPHEE"
(2006) (Emma Thompson, Colin Firth) (PG)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Minor	Minor	Heavy	Mild	None
Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Moderate	Minor	Minor	None	Minor
Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Mild	None	Moderate	Moderate	Mild

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QUICK TAKE:

Comedy: A magical nanny sets out to get a septet of unruly children to behave.

PLOT:

The Brown children -- Simon (THOMAS SANGSTER), Tora (ELIZA BENNETT), Eric (RAPHAEL COLEMAN), Lily (JENNIFER RAE DAYKIN), Christianna (HOLLY GIBBS), Sebastian (SAMUEL HONYWOOD) and Baby Agatha (HEBE & ZINNIA BARNES) -- are legendary in their Victorian era London village. Actually, notorious is more like it as they've just proceeded to drive away their 17th nanny. Evangeline (KELLY MACDONALD), the scullery maid, puts up with but can't control them, which also holds true for family cook Mrs. Blatherwick (IMELDA STAUNTON).

Not surprisingly, when the children's beleaguered and recently widowed father Cedric Brown (COLIN FIRTH) goes looking for another nanny, he can't find one. And with most of his time spent working at the local funeral parlor, it doesn't seem likely that he'll be able to meet a deadline set by Great Aunt Adelaide (ANGELA LANSBURY) where she'll cut off the family's allowance if he can't find a new wife and mother for the children.

With little time to spare, Cedric sets his sights on recent widow Selma Quickly (CELIA IMRIE), but realizes his kids will probably drive her away as well. As luck would have it, that's when Nanny McPhee (EMMA THOMPSON) shows up. Bucktoothed and not particularly becoming, she says she's there from the government and will whip the kids into shape via teaching them five valuable lessons.

Led by Simon, the kids immediately set out to drive her away as well, but with her magic stick and other supernatural powers, it's not long before she puts the kids in their place and teaches them a thing or two about manners, respect and more. But with time running out regarding Adelaide's deadline, it's uncertain whether she'll succeed before it's too late.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?

Younger kids probably will, but older preteens and teens might think it's too juvenile for them.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG

For mild thematic elements, some rude humor and brief language.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:

EMMA THOMPSON plays a magical nanny who arrives at the Brown household and immediately starts to set things straight by teaching the kids a number of lessons that will stop their unruliness (all by using magic and wits).

COLIN FIRTH plays a widower who works at the local funeral parlor and doesn't have the time or ability to control his kids. He also must find a new wife in a set period lest he lose Aunt Adelaide's allowance to the family.

KELLY MACDONALD plays the scullery maid who likes the kids despite their behavior, is learning how to read, and goes off with Adelaide to become an educated, prim, and proper young lady.

CELIA IMRIE plays the widow who Cedric pursues, (but only to meet Aunt Adelaide's deadline). After thinking he's too forward with her, she changes her mind when she realizes Adelaide's money is involved.

IMELDA STAUNTON plays the frazzled family cook who doesn't think much of the kids.

ANGELA LANSBURY plays the family's snooty aunt who looks down on Cedric and threatens to remove their allowance should he fail to remarry in a certain amount of time.

THOMAS SANGSTER plays Cedric's son, the ringleader in driving nannies out of their house. When Nanny McPhee arrives, he instantly has a bad attitude toward her, but eventually changes his ways.

ELIZA BENNETT plays his sister who assists him in their quest to drive their latest nanny crazy.

RAPHAEL COLEMAN, JENNIFER RAE DAYKIN, HOLLY GIBBS and SAMUEL HONYWOOD play their siblings who similarly act up and try to drive away Nanny McPhee.

HEBE & ZINNIA BARNES play the infant Agatha.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

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Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

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OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a brief summary of the content found in this children's comedy that's been rated PG. There's 1 minor expletive along with various colorful phrases, while some non-explicit, but sexually related comments are present, as are varying amounts of cleavage (sometimes a lot). Various bad attitudes (including kids disrespecting adults) are present, while that unruly behavior and other material might be enticing for some kids to imitate.

A few moments might be a little unsettling to the youngest of viewers (talk of McPhee being a witch, the sight of dead but clothed bodies in a funeral parlor, etc.), while tense family material (a dead mother, and her son being upset with his emotionally distant father) is also present, as are related thematic elements. Some slapstick style material occurs, as does brief alcohol consumption.

Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

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ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE

Aunt Adelaide has what looks like wine.

Aunt Adelaide demands, "Sherry, this instant" and Selma offers to pour it for her.

BLOOD/GORE

When the kids taunt Nanny McPhee that she doesn't know their names, Simon says his is "Oglington Fartsworth" (and spells out the last name as we then hear baby Agatha fart). Another says their name is "Poo."

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE

The kids have various styles and forms of bad attitudes toward most adults, striving to drive away all of their nannies, including Nanny McPhee.

Cedric jokes about influenza carrying off all the old folks, adding that it's bad for them, but good for the funeral home business.

Those opposed to the notion of magic might not like Nanny McPhee using that to teach the kids various lessons and to affect others as well.

Aunt Adelaide is very stuffy, demanding and condescending toward Nanny McPhee and his kids (although she says she always keeps her word and has been financially supporting the family - but she's given Cedric a deadline to get married or else she'll withdraw her money).

When hearing that a lot of money might be involved, Selma changes her mind about marrying Cedric (now agreeing to that and then sucking up to Aunt Adelaide upon meeting her).

Selma refers to Cedric's kids as his "nasty little brood."

Selma tells the kids that changes are coming and then, upset about baby Agatha making noise with her rattle, takes it from her and breaks it.

Some people refer to Aunt Adelaide as "You old trout" and "Old hag."

FRIGHTENING SCENES

As the kids' 17th nanny races out of the house in horror, we hear her saying "They've eaten the baby." As Cedric enters the house, he sees one child eating a small leg with some clothing on it, but he quickly realizes it's just a drumstick and he retrieves Baby Agatha from a cooking tray that's filled with vegetables (the kids did all of that just to drive the nanny away).

We see a sideways silhouette of a figure at the door and both Cedric and Evangeline appear nervous about that, but it turns out to be Nanny McPhee.

Nanny McPhee's appearance (a long bucktooth that rides down over her lower lip, a bulbous nose, warts, etc.) might be unsettling for some younger kids, and some of the younger kids here think she's a witch.

While out of control in the kitchen, the kids break various things, such as plates, by flipping them off a bench like a catapult. Nanny McPhee then puts a spell on them that makes them unable to stop doing so until all apologize. One of the girls then puts Baby Agatha on that bench (under Nanny McPhee's spell) and can't control herself as she prepares to catapult the baby into some hot soup, but Simon finally says he's sorry, the spell is broken and the baby is safe.

Cedric's coworkers suddenly sit upright in coffins, hoping to startle him for laughs.

For those unsettled by the sight of dead people, the following is present: We see a dead man lying on a table in the funeral home (we see his bare feet, and his eyes are open, but beyond being dead, he's not discolored, etc.). We see another dead man in a casket and his eyes are open. We briefly see the dead feet of a body in the funeral home (wearing a toe tag).

Going along with his ruse of being sick, Nanny McPhee makes Simon swallow a spoonful of some thick and rather nasty looking medicine (played more for icky laughs).

Trying to drive away Selma, the kids do various things, all thwarted by Cedric. They include a tarantula being lowered down to her head.

GUNS/WEAPONS

None.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR

Phrases: "Poor them, my aunt Fanny," "The person you need is Nanny McPhee" (said repeatedly by disembodied voice), "You pestilent tykes," "Blimey," "Don't be daft," "I did knock" (said after suddenly surprising people), "I can't stand loose vowels," "Oh, shut up," "You mad fool," "You're a cad," "A common tart," "Nasty little brood," "Little bugger," "You old trout" and "Old hag."

When the kids taunt Nanny McPhee that she doesn't know their names, Simon says his is "Oglington Fartsworth" (and spells out the last name as we then hear baby Agatha fart). The other kids laughing lie that their names are "Bum," "Bosoms" and "Poo."

Some/all of the kids' actions (including those listed below) might be enticing for others to imitate.

We see Sebastian sitting atop the piano, pounding the keys with his feet while eating jam (or something similar with his bare hands).

Eric uses a toy guillotine to behead various stuffed figures and toys.

As Mrs. Blatherwick backs up, Eric raises a skillet and whacks her on the head with it, knocking her out. We then see that the kids have gagged and bound her to the table while they run amok.

While out of control in the kitchen, the kids break various things, such as plates, by flipping them off a bench like a catapult.

The kids act as if they're sick with the measles (they have red marks on their faces) so that they don't have to get out of bed.

So that she can't see that the kids have dressed the farm animals as siblings (in human clothes), Cedric licks Aunt Adelaide's glasses (before she puts them on) so that her nearsighted view is still distorted.

Trying to drive away Selma, the kids do various things, all thwarted by Cedric. They include one kid placing a small harpoon type thing in the chair as she's about to sit down, and a tarantula being lowered down to her head. They've put worms in her crackers and cheese (and she eats one, not realizing she's done so), and when Cedric pours tea for her, it's green and gooey frog eggs instead. They've also electrified the door handle (that he grabs instead and receives a shock); and they fire a glob of oatmeal (or something similar) at her, with him taking the hit.

Going along with his kids' attempts to stop his marriage to Selma, Cedric pretends there's a bee in her bonnet, whacking the latter off and her to the ground in the process (the latter by accident). Some cake accidentally hits someone and soon there's a big cake throwing "battle" among various people at the wedding (all played for laughs).

JUMP SCENES

Cedric's coworkers suddenly sit upright in coffins, hoping to startle him for laughs.

Cedric turns and Nanny McPhee is suddenly standing there (played for laughs).

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)

A little bit of comically suspenseful music plays in a few scenes.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)

None.

PROFANITY

At least 1 hell and 1 use each of "God" and "Oh my Lord."

SEX/NUDITY

Selma shows varying amounts of cleavage (sometimes a lot) in her period, low-cut dresses.

As Cedric tries to thwart his kids' attempts to drive away Selma, she doesn't realize the latter and instead thinks he's coming on to her (such as when he suddenly grabs her, etc.). She comments on his passion and says "You mad fool" and "You're inflamed" when he tackles her to the floor to prevent her from drinking frog egg tea. He then stops her from leaving (so that she doesn't touch an electrified doorknob) by pressing her up against a door and then blocks her from being hit by a glob of slingshot fired oatmeal (or something similar) with his head ending up at her cleavage. She then calls him a cad and smacks him to the floor.

As Selma tells another woman about what happened with Cedric (above), saying he had his hands all over her and that it was clear what he wanted, a bit of word play has the term "a common tart" come out.

When the kids say Cedric should marry Evangeline, Aunt Adelaide says "incest" (because she was misled to believe that Evangeline was one of Cedric's daughters when she really wasn't). Later, and just to confirm things, the priest who's there for the ceremony asks, "The lady is not the fruit of your loins?"

SMOKING

None.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES

Simon states that all fathers turn bad when their wives die, adding that they now hardly see Cedric and that he doesn't interact with them as he once did.

On several occasions, we see Cedric talking to an empty chair (where his wife once sat before she died).

Aunt Adelaide decides she's going to take one of the kids (forever) to "help" Cedric, but he and the kids are horrified by the thought of that.

When Simon is concerned about his dad preparing to see Selma, Cedric is flustered and orders him home, with Simon yelling out, "You never listen!"

Cedric tells the kids the truth about their financial and housing predicament, adding that he doesn't know how many of them will get to stay together.

One of the boys asks Cedric if he thinks their mom still thinks about them wherever she is, Cedric says he does.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT

Treating adults with respect.

Nannies.

Losing a parent.

Working at a funeral parlor.

Simon states that all fathers turn bad when their wives die, adding that they now hardly see Cedric and that he doesn't interact with them as he once did.

Cedric jokes about influenza carrying off all the old folks, adding that it's bad for them, but good for the funeral home business.

Magic.

We hear that Evangeline is learning how to read.

When the kids say Cedric should marry Evangeline, Aunt Adelaide says "incest" (because she was misled to believe that Evangeline was one of Cedric's daughters when she really wasn't). Later, and just to confirm things, the priest who's there for the ceremony asks, "The lady is not the fruit of your loins?"

VIOLENCE

Cedric trips and tumbles down the staircase, but is okay.

After a mechanical mouse travels by her, Mrs. Blatherwick smashes it into small pieces. As she backs up, Eric raises a skillet and whacks her on the head with it, knocking her out. We then see that the kids have gagged and bound her to the table while they run amok.

While out of control in the kitchen, the kids break various things, such as plates, by flipping them off a bench like a catapult.

As Cedric tries to thwart his kids' attempts to drive away Selma, he grabs the electrified doorknob so that she doesn't, with her then smacking him to the floor when thinking he's making forward advances on her (he's not).

Selma tells the kids that changes are coming and then, upset about baby Agatha making noise with her rattle, takes it from her and breaks it.

Going along with his kids' attempts to stop his marriage to Selma, Cedric pretends there's a bee in her bonnet, whacking the latter off and her to the ground in the process (the latter by accident). Some cake accidentally hits someone and soon there's a big cake throwing "battle" among various people at the wedding (all played for laughs).

Reviewed January 7, 2006 / Posted January 27, 2006

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