Saving Mr. Banks

Almost everyone knows the film, Mary Poppins is a timeless classic that has been enjoyed by several generations. But the making of the film and the background of the story around the enchanting nanny are just as full of magic, suspense and moving moments that they make the perfect material for its own film. John Lee Hancock (Blind Side) has now staged this with a congenial cast, lots of humor and heart. The result is called Saving Mr. Banks and tells of Walt Disney's (Tom Hanks) efforts to bring his daughters' favorite book to the big screen.

Too bad that British novelist P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) stubbornly refuses to accept the lucrative offer from Hollywood. Only when her financial situation almost forces her to sell her beloved house does she agree to fly to Hollywood for negotiations. But neither the many gifts that await her in her hotel suite, nor the overly friendly chauffeur Ralph (Paul Giamatti), nor the enthusiasm of Disney and his team can dispel the reservations of the disgruntled writer. Her fear that her story will be trashed into a shallow musical is too great. While Travers drives especially the composer duo Richard (Jason Schwartzman) and Robert Sherman (B.L. Novak) as well as the screenwriter Don DaGradi (Bradley Whitford) crazy with her bad mood and her blocking behavior, Walt Disney understands more and more that Travers clings so protectively to her creation for very personal reasons - reasons he would like to understand too much.

Saving Mr. Banks actually tells two stories that, at first glance, are also very different in character. While the part of the plot dealing with the making of the classic film Mary Poppins is full of wit and self-mockery, the journey into the author's childhood is much more dramatic and emotional. Now you might think that this mix wouldn't quite want to work. However, by having certain triggers such as songs or text passages from Mary Poppins that evoke memories of her childhood in Mrs. Travers and of her father - very well played by Colin Farrell - a direct connection is made between the two storylines that comes across as absolutely harmonious. In addition, the humor helps keep the more dramatic part of the film from feeling too heavy or even depressing.

More to the point, this blend has the effect of keeping the audience from feeling emotionally manipulated. You don't even notice how the hearty laughter slowly but surely turns into light sobbing - assuming, of course, you're susceptible to the Disney-esque emotional attacks. Even if the Hollywood giant presents itself here quite with a self-deprecating wink, Saving Mr. Banks is stylistically a typical Disney film - and there, of course, in addition to the joke is not lacking a good portion of beautiful kitsch.

Neben the successful mixture of humor and drama, the actors are also a big plus point of this beautiful film. Even though Emma Thompson doesn't really show a new side to her skills as a curmudgeonly writer, and Tom Hanks is also on safe territory as Walt Disney, it's just fun to watch the actors bring their real-life role models to new screen life. And you can get a sense of just how close Thompson's performance is to the real thing during the closing credits, when you can hear some of the real tape recordings P.L. Travers made during her meetings with the composers and the author.

Saving Mr. Banks is an enchanting and touching homage to Marry Poppins. At the same time, it's also a feel good movie that works in a completely detached way, offering two hours of perfect everyday escapism with great actors, wonderful dialogue, charming humor, and big feelings. If you like feel-good cinema from Hollywood and find it hard to resist Disney-brand emotions, then you definitely shouldn't miss this beautiful work. Absolutely worth seeing!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp