Mary Poppins Returns

It has been a year since Michael Banks (Ben 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).

His rabble-rousing sister Jane (Emily Mortimer) is helping to care for the brood but 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 fog-shrouded streets of London.

Thankfully, a high-flying kite snags magical nanny Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt), who rekindles sparks of joy in her former wards.

She is aided by luminous Cockney lamplighter Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda) and eccentric "second cousin... many times removed" Topsy (Meryl Streep).

A spoonful of nostalgia - make that several heaped spoonfuls - helps the joy-infused medicine of Mary Poppins Returns go down in the most delightful way.

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!"

A new songbook by composer Marc Shaiman and lyricist Scott Wittman lacks the immediately hummable melodies conjured by Oscar winners Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman.

However, when ditties hit their emotional mark in Rob Marshall's 1930s-set musical fantasy, they are spit spot on.