Practically perfect in every way

Mary Poppins Returns BBC iplayer ●●●●○

Emily Blunt and Ben Whishaw are in first-class form in this belated sequel.

Director Rob Marshall brings the necessary magic and the new tunes pack an emotional punch.

The film works well as a continuation of the story and there are a few nice tributes to the seminal original.

Marshall bathes his movie in eye-catching colours but also doesn’t lose sight of the importance of adding a tinge of darkness and apparent hopelessness to overcome.

I could have done without the odd, unnecessary Meryl Streep cameo, though.