Mary Poppins Returns

(Cert U, 130 mins)

Based on the books by PL Travers, Mary Poppins Returns prescribes two hours of pure, sentiment-soaked escapism to banish the winter blues and jiggedy-jog our weary souls.

It’s a lavishly staged carousel of whoop-inducing song and dance numbers that kicks up its polished heels in the face of cynicism and affectionately harks back to the 1964 Oscar-winning classic directed by Robert Stevenson.

Musical refrains from Chim Chim Cher-ee, Let’s Go Fly A Kite and The Perfect Nanny among others are woven into the fabric of Marshall’s lavishly embroidered picture.

Karen Dotrice, who played Jane Banks in the original, has a lovely cameo as an elegant lady in search of 19 Cherry Tree Lane and Dick Van Dyke proves he can still step in time as chairman of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank.

Emily Blunt is practically perfect in every way, making her entrance with a reverential nod to Julie Andrews – “Close your mouth, Michael. We are still not a codfish!” – as the London-born actress makes this iteration of the role her own with effortless efficiency.

A father’s heart-wrenching lament to his late wife is delivered by Ben Whishaw, while Meryl Streep literally swings from a chandelier during her scene-stealing solo, Turning Turtle.

It has been a year since Michael Banks (Whishaw) lost his wife Kate, and with it the light in his heart to guide their children Annabel (Pixie Davies), John (Nathanael Saleh) and Georgie (Joel Dawson).

The grief-stricken father is three months in arrears on a bank loan secured against 17 Cherry Tree Lane.

Unless Michael can repay his dues in full by the end of the week, the house will be seized by bank chairman William Wilkins (Colin Firth).

The family, including clucky housemaid Ellen (Julie Walters), will be homeless on the streets of London.

Thankfully, magical nanny Mary Poppins (Blunt), descends serenely with toes pointing out to rekindle sparks of joy in her former wards.

Before you can say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Marshall has us grinning ear to ear as we accompany the Banks clan on their fantastical odyssey.

The sequel’s centrepiece, Trip The Light Fantastic, is modelled on Step In Time with its acrobatic troupe of lamplighters and syncopated choreography, and the aptly titled Nowhere To Go But Up soars courtesy of Angela Lansbury.

This Christmas and beyond, it’s an exceedingly jolly ‘oliday with Mary Poppins Returns.

Picture: PA/Disney. The cast includes Emily Mortimer as Jane Banks, Nathanael Saleh as John Banks, Pixie Davies as Annabel Banks, Julie Walters as Ellen, Lin-Manuel Miranda as Jack, Joel Dawson as Georgie Banks and Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins.