Why Mary Poppins Returns Arrived Too Late

Mary Poppins Returns fizzled at the Box Office. I’m not sure how much of that is Aquaman wetting down audiences or something else. Honestly, I could see in the theater lobby why the movie wasn’t connecting. Mary Poppins fandom was running thin when I was a kid. 30 years later and these ankle biters have no frame of reference for the material. That is unless they were arty kids who hate watched Saving Mr. Banks a few years back.

The problem with reaching youth with older properties is that you have to build a relationship with the material. While the FX and music were cool, it’s still an over 2 hour long musical that pays homage to classic studio pictures. That might make the grandparents into quivering piles of moist flesh, but Little Billy ain’t going to give a hoot. So, instead of bashing Mary Poppins…let’s talking about the two-part release this Tuesday.

The 4K UHD disc  is stunning with a gut-punching Atmos track and stellar 2.39:1 2160p transfer. The Blu-ray is pretty strong, but due to the heavy colors in the shoot…everything just pops on the 4K presentation. The special features are virtually the same, but the UltraPlay on the 4K makes things fun. Hell, it’s almost enough to make you forget that it’s an Upscaled 4K transfer. Sound good so far? Check out the special features.

Mary Poppins Returns special features

• Deleted Song—“The Anthropomorphic Zoo” – In this early song sequence, Mary Poppins and the children visit a very special zoo where the humans and animals trade places.
• The Practically Perfect Making of “Mary Poppins Returns” – Join filmmakers and cast on an amazing journey to embrace the legacy of the original film while making a fresh modern sequel.
  • Introduction – Filmmakers and cast remember the first Mary Poppins movie and share the thrill of working on “Mary Poppins Returns.”
  • “(Underneath the) Lovely London Sky” – Discover how the team mined PL Travers’ books for a fresh perspective on a much-loved character. Plus, meet the Banks children!
  • “Can You Imagine That?” – Be on location for Mary’s iconic entrance from the sky, and explore the movie’s original songs, inspired by the Sherman Brothers.
  • “Nowhere to Go but Up” – Experience being on set with the legendary Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury, and celebrate the joy of choosing the right balloon!
• Seeing Things From a Different Point of View”: The Musical Numbers of “Mary Poppins Returns” – Go behind the scenes and experience the film’s production numbers from a new angle.
  • “Trip a Little Light Fantastic” – Led by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the cast performs the film’s biggest production number, with dancing lamplighters, bicyclists and more!
  • “The Royal Doulton Music Hall” / “A Cover Is Not the Book” – Find out what it takes to create two musical extravaganzas inside an animated world, highlighted by dancing animated penguins!
  • “Turning Turtle” – Mary’s eccentric cousin, Topsy Turvy, played by Meryl Streep, has an unusual house that turns this musical number upside-down.
  • “Can You Imagine That?” – Dive under the bubbles with the cast and crew to see how this exuberant number was created.
• Back to Cherry Tree Lane: Dick Van Dyke Returns – Dick Van Dyke, who played Bert and Mr. Dawes Sr. in the first film, returns after 54 years to Cherry Tree Lane as Mr. Dawes Jr.
• Practically Perfect Bloopers – There’s nowhere to go but up with the cast and crew in this lighthearted collection of flubs, goofs and prop fails!
• Deleted Scenes
  • Leaving Topsy’s – After their visit to Cousin Topsy, Mary, Jack and the children pause to take a look back.
  • “Trip a Little Light Fantastic” – The leeries light up the screen in this extended clip from the movie’s biggest musical production.
• Play Movie in Sing-Along Mode – Sing along with all your favorite songs as you watch the movie.