Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) returns to save the Banks children who are now fully grown and are in a spot of bother. Michael Banks (Ben Wishaw) has grown to be a little like his father and financial difficulties threaten him losing the house that he lives in with his children. Whilst he and his sister Jane (Emily Mortimer) look for their father’s shares to save the day Mary Poppins guides the children and the adults to a better outlook on life.

It has been 54 years since Julie Andrews starred as Mary Poppins and given the original films standing as a classic the film makers must have approached this sequel with some trepidation. And even if you wanted to find flaws in this film the one thing it absolutely hits the mark with is Emily Blunt’s performance as Mary Poppins. She is absolutely radiant. Her smile is infectious, her clipped dismissive remarks superb and she looks and sounds the part. Of course that means that occasionally the film dips without her but she earns this sequels right to stand alongside the original.

Elsewhere in the film we have Lin-Manuel Miranda, best known for creating musical smash hit Hamilton as Jack the grown up chimney sweep essentially filling the Dick Van Dyke role. He is a good foil and acquits himself well. Meryl Streep appears for one of the less interesting songs and Colin Firth does a splendid job as the villainous bank manager.

The films best moments are in Poppins flights of fancy with the children including old fashioned Disney animation and Poppins herself and whilst it doesn’t have the catchiest tunes it will absolutely bring a smile to your face.