Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

Despite the all-star cast and solid performances, this film lacked the magic and pizzazz of the original.
MIchael Banks (Ben Whishaw) is all grown up and having struggles. His beloved wife died the year previously and he's deep in debt, dangerously close to losing his family home. Enter Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt). She arrives just when she's needed though the Banks children are largely self-sufficient as they have been forced to grow up fast.
But they are determined to save the house and Mary is there to watch them. While Emily Blunt does well, her performance is nothing remarkable. Lin-Manual Miranda is great despite being extremely miscast as a lamplighter (apparently, they still had those in 1930s London) and his crush isn't Mary Poppins but Jane Banks (another Emily, Emily Mortimer), a unionizer. That being said, though he is good in a part that was written especially for him, his character is largely unnecessary and he deserves better.
And it is far too predictable that Colin Firth's character is actually a bad guy. He works at the bank and is determined to have the family house.
While the musical numbers are delightful and a highlight, the film itself is nothing special despite having a shiny exterior. And that is unacceptable. Everyone in this film deserves far better material. Grade: B
Side Notes:
-Pay attention to some great cameos from Meryl Streep, Dick Van Dyke and the indefatigable Angela Lansbury.
-Julie Walters is also solid in her role as the family maid, Ellen.
-We never find out how much the family bowl heirloom is worth, in fact, the children never retrieve it from Meryl Streep, so I guess that's a plot hole.
-Mixing animation with live action is never not astonishing.