Who would be a better escort in Disneyland than Walt Disney himself? In "Saving Mr.Banks," that is what audiences get as the film takes viewers into a behind-the-scenes view of the making of a classic, "Mary Poppins." In the words of Walt Disney's character himself, "My imagination caught on fire."
The movie follows the story of Mrs. Travers, the author of "Mary Poppins." Walt Disney has promised his daughters that he would bring Mary Poppins to life, but hasn't been successful in reaching that goal.
Mrs. Travers is extremely reluctant to let Walt have the rights to her book. She explains to Walt that Mary Poppins and the Banks are like family to her.
The entirety of the film shows two stories woven into each other: the truth behind the book "Mary Poppins" and Walt's pursuit of being accepted by Mrs. Travers and of bringing "Mary Poppins" to life.
"Saving Mr. Banks" is truly a work of Disney magic. Unlike the usual animated and light-hearted films, this movie tears open the heart and soul of a true story that reveals the reality behind the magical nanny.
There is no fine line in this movie between what can and cannot be deemed appropriate for a Disney movie, hence the PG-13 rating. I thought this was a particularly smart move on behalf of Disney because the majority of the audience who watched "Mary Poppins" during their childhood are old enough now to learn the real story behind it.
When I say there was no fine line I mean it. Walt Disney was drinking scotch and smoking a cigar. The story line touched on heavy subjects such as alcoholism and suicide through the character of Mr. Travers, whom Mr. Banks is based upon. This is no cookie-cutter Disney movie, but that doesn't mean it was depressing all together.
In fact, my favorite part of the movie was seeing how they were able to bring Walt Disney to life. Living in Florida my whole life, I feel as if I was raised in Disney World. Walking down Main Street USA and seeing the giant bronze statue of Walt Disney holding hands with Mickey Mouse, I almost felt like Walt Disney was a fictional character himself.
The first scene when Walt Disney walked around the corner, my heart just about skipped a beat. Tom Hanks did a remarkable job representing Walt Disney, and that comes at no surprise with his acting history and two Oscar awards.
The rest of the cast also did a phenomenal job, especially Hanks' co-star, Emma Thompson, who has already racked up two Academy awards. Thompson has also received a Golden Globe nomination for "Saving Mr. Banks" for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama."
"Saving Mr. Banks" may not have been as popular with the younger crowd, but the older crowd definitely found it pleasing with an 80 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Personally, I believe it deserved a higher score, but Disney did something different this time, and not everyone likes change.
"Saving Mr. Banks" has already earned over $81 million dollars in the box office since its debut on Dec. 30. Since then, the movie has been nominated for 43 awards, including an Oscar for "Best Original Score."
Without a doubt, I would suggest this movie to anyone who likes anything having to do with Disney or "Mary Poppins." I would also warn people that this movie is much more emotional and sentimental than a typical Disney movie.
In the end, "Saving Mr. Banks" made me feel like I was along for the ride in the making of "Mary Poppins."