This was a pleasant surprise, much better than I anticipated. I figured Emma Thompson would be good in the title role because you can usually count on her to be entertaining in form or another, cerebrally, emotionally or comically. What I didn't figure on was the fun, extremely colorful story, overall. This was like a banana split for your senses - all kinds of wild treats for the eyes and ears.....to taste, so to speak.

This film features outrageous color schemes from the word "go," from the interior of the "Brown's" house, to everyone's apparel to the scenery outside. It almost reminded me "The Cat In The Hat" with its crazy colors.

All the characters are as exaggerated as the colors, too. The kids may be brats but they aren't bad once they get some needed discipline and love from Nanny McPhee. They are still fun to watch, and all are quite different in appearance and mannerisms. Thompson is a howl as Mary Poppins-like McPhee and so are the supporting characters. There were no sappy songs, either. This is not a musical.

The only character annoying to me was the kids' dad, played by Colin Firth. The actor was fine but his character was so wishy-washy, so wussy, he was barely tolerable for much of the film. By the way, you might not recognize the famous Angela Lansbury in here. Everyone, including her, must have had a great time filming this movie.

Only the final wedding segment got carried away with juvenile silliness; the rest was fun for adults and well as the kids, who must have loved this all the way through.

This is simply good entertainment and highly recommended.

Nanny McPhee is an example of a film where I was put off by the trailers, but I am glad I saw the film, because it is a lively, well meaning and very colourful film. Not to mention entertaining... there are some very amusing scenes in the early parts of the film, with the children, who all gave spirited performances. The costumes and sets are very colourful, with beautiful vivid colours, perhaps a bit too much at times, but you can't deny the look of the film was lovely. The script was absolutely delightful, very lively and entertaining. But what made this film was the performance of Emma Thompson, who was just terrific. As was Colin Firth, and I thoroughly enjoyed Angela Lansbury's turn as an elderly aristocrat. The ending was easily the best scene of the film, the visuals were just amazing in that scene, and the music by Patrick Doyle was fun too. However, adults may get tired of some of the jokes, and there are some slow moments in the middle half, but I commend the film for its messaging, that were well meaning and thoughtful. All in all, a very enjoyable film, perhaps more for children, but adults will like the visuals and Emma Thompson. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Mr. Brown (Colin Firth) is a recently widowed father of seven children. The kids hate all nannies and have become experts at running them off. More than anything, they fear that they will have an evil step mother like in the fairy tales. In desperation, Mr. Brown listens to a mysterious voice and asks for Nanny McPhee. Her rule is "When you need me but do not want me, then I must stay. When you want me but no longer need me, then I have to go." Also great aunt Lady Adelaide Stitch (Angela Lansbury) who financially supports Mr. Brown is now demanding he remarry by the end of the month.

The kids are annoying brats. I guess that's the point of the movie. Kelly Macdonald is the only real likable character as the servant Evangeline. This is one ruckus kids movie that I'm not sure kids will like. Nanny McPhee is no Mary Poppins. And which kids like to watch other wild kids being disciplined. But in the end, I think they will like all the wild craziness on the screen.