“When Walt Disney’s daughters begged him to make a movie of their favorite book, P.L. Travers’ “Mary Poppins,” he made them a promise—one that he didn’t realize would take 20 years to keep. In his quest to obtain the rights, Walt comes up against a curmudgeonly, uncompromising writer who has absolutely no intention of letting her beloved magical nanny get mauled by the Hollywood machine. But, as the books stop selling and money grows short, Travers reluctantly agrees to go to Los Angeles to hear Disney’s plans for the adaptation.  For those two short weeks in 1961, Walt Disney pulls out all the stops. Armed with imaginative storyboards and chirpy songs from the talented Sherman brothers, Walt launches an all-out onslaught on P.L. Travers, but the prickly author doesn’t budge. He soon begins to watch helplessly as Travers becomes increasingly immovable and the rights begin to move further away from his grasp.  It is only when he reaches into his own childhood that Walt discovers the truth about the ghosts that haunt her, and together they set Mary Poppins free to ultimately make one of the most endearing films in cinematic history.  Inspired by true events, “Saving Mr. Banks” is the extraordinary, untold story of how Disney’s classic “Mary Poppins” made it to the screen—and the testy relationship that the legendary Walt Disney had with author P.L. Travers that almost derailed it.”

I love Disney’s Mary Poppins.  It is my favorite live action Disney musical.  I have been very excited to see Saving Mr. Banks since it was announced.  Saving Mr. Banks is a fantastic movie.

The main reason why this movie is so good is because of the amazing acting done by the whole cast.  Emma Thompson is fabulous as P.L. Travers.  She portrays P.L. Travers the way that I think she really was.  She was very reluctant to give the rights to Mary Poppins to Walt Disney.  Ms. Thompson shows this vulnerability on the screen.  Tom Hanks was great as Walt Disney.  Mr. Hanks captures many of Walt Disney’s mannerisms in his performance.  Sometimes, I really felt I was staring at Walt Disney.  I also really loved Paul Giamatti as Ralph, Ms. Travers’ limo driver.  Although it is a small role, some of the film’s sweetest moments are between him and Ms. Thompson.

One big part of this movie is that they portray P.L. Travers’ past and what inspired her to write Mary Poppins.  Colin Farrell plays P.L. Travers’ father and is fantastic in this role.  P.L. Travers did not have the best childhood growing up.  There are moments of happiness but most of it was unhappy.  This really had an influence on the way she acted and person she was.

This movie is rated PG-13 for ‘thematic elements including some unsettling images.’  There is not a lot of language or anything really bad about this movie.  This is just a movie for adults.  Little kids will probably be bored.

I really loved Saving Mr. Banks and would love to watch it again.  I can highly recommend it for its sweet story and fabulous acting.

Saving Mr. Banks gets bragging rights!

Saving Mr. Banks is rated PG-13.  It is now playing in theaters.  For more information, you can visit the movie’s official website, Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.