and hilarious. The new animal characters, especially the baby elephant, are a delight. The lighting and slightly yellowish tint gives 'Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang' a very sunny look. The humour works very well as it had me laughing out loud on various occasions.However, unlike in the first movie, the story here felt rushed and there were some inconsistencies. The bomb sequence, as entertaining as it was, wasn't necessary and it only distracted from the main story. The child actors here are competent but their counterparts in the first film performed better. While the special effects here are very good they didn't appear as authentic.Emma Thompson reprises the title role and she does a fine job. She mostly takes the backseat while letting the other actors perform. Maggie Gyllenhaal shows a knack for comedy and her English accent sounds authentic. Maggie Smith is a riot. Rhys Ifans does well as the greedy uncle.'Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang' may not measure up to 'Nanny McPhee' but it's still a lot of fun and a good watch for the family. I was smiling after it finished watch it through the closing credits as there's a very cute surprise .

Cue a massive free-for-all, and enter Nanny McPhee Emma Thompson , the magical troubleshooter who's determined to teach the kids five crucial life lessons. This sequel to the 2005 hit is an extraordinarily well-written, unpretentious, intelligent children's movie that strikes just the right balance between fantasy and reality, with impeccably-drawn characters who develop in believable and touching ways as they're brought to life by a hand-picked cast.Engaging performances from the children are supported by pitch-perfect turns from Gyllenhall, Ewan McGregor, Maggie Smith, villain Rhys Ifans - a spiv in the George Cole mould - and Ralph Fiennes, the pick of the bunch playing an arrogant, emotionally-repressed War Office bigwig. Thompson, who also scripted, is a delight as the titular saviour, ideas brewing endlessly beneath that thatched grey hair. The film gets its many laughs without resorting to spoofery or lazy pop culture gags - offering slapstick, observation and effective character comedy - and packs a real emotional wallop. The scene between the uptight Fiennes and his unhappy son is the highspot, made all the more moving by being so doggedly unsentimental, while the movie's bittersweet climax yanks on the heartstrings in an entirely agreeable manner. Ultimately, Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang is everything that kids' films should be and yet so rarely are, wearing its prestigious influences lightly as it casts a gentle spell over the viewer. It also features an Esther Williams-style synchronised swimming dance number performed by pigs - and movies don't get much better than that.

means dumping it all over the floor, but the best part of all was right at the end. Nanny McPhee says goodbye to Aggie, and Aggie pulls a little silver rattle out of her dress pocket, it clicked to me and to other fans of the first movie that Maggie Smith is playing a full grown version of Baby Agatha from the first movie. I suggest seeing the first movie before the second one, because it's okay standalone but there's at least one reference to the previous movie. The part when the father gets home is ever so slightly corny for all us cynics out there, but it didn't put a damper on my enjoyment of the film, and I really really liked this. I recommend it to anyone, particularly people with kids of any age. Great film.

you're going to see it I suggest you take all the family. Its a definite must see for all ages and you'll not be disappointed.

some very good young actors and once again brilliantly performed by Emma Thompson, the second Nanny McPhee film is for me, as much in league with modern children's classics as the much hyped Harry Potter. I found the storyline joyful and uplifting without being saccharine sweet and the film boasts some wonderful cameos. Katy Brand steals the show as the rough voiced yet somehow glamorous hit woman hot on the heels of Rhys Ifan's delightfully over the top villain. If I had to make any fault at all with this film it is at Maggie Gyllenhaal's unexpected casting and sometimes overly enthusiastic gushing, although generally Gyllenhaal is a decent actress she remains quite unlikeable for the first half of this film as the over-worked yet underwhelming mother character. A stunning turn from Dame Maggie Smith as she proves she still has the power to take even the smallest of roles and turn it into a wonderfully amusing, well performed piece.

the pigs were computer generated but they looked great...very realistic.

looking after for her brother a high ranking war official played by Ralph Fiennes while her husband Ewan McGregor is away at war. The story follows a similar pattern as the first with Thompson's character teaching the kids vital life lessons, encountering a potentially terrible situation evil uncle Rhys Ifans wants to sell their farm, oh no! and then bobbing along towards the inevitably happy ending. It's kept interesting and entertaining though by the constant flurry of gags for the adults and good use of slapstick for the kids.The humour works because the cast are so good. Thompson's delivery is perfect and there's also a fantastically funny cameo appearance from Bill Bailey. Emma Thompson also wrote the script for this film and so she should really take 95% of the credit for the entertainment. The rest of the cast do a great job too though, with Ralph Fiennes standing out as he always does and the kids are also to be commended even though they aren't quite as good as those from the first film. Although, like in 2006's Stormbreaker, having Ewan McGregor in there seems just like an excuse to have a big name on the poster because he really adds nothing to the film.Director Susanna White should get a healthy dose of kudos too. The film looks brilliant with it's bright colours and old fashioned British feel. Filmed in modest locations such as Oxfordshire and Surrey, the film shows that you don't need all the green screen in the world to have a damn good looking film.I could praise the director and the cast all day, but the real star of the show is of course Emma Thompson. She's not only brilliant as the titular character, the script she's written is also fantastically funny and entertaining. Big respect to her for turning down the big budget Harry Potter to put her heart and soul into this modes family British film - it shows she put a lot into this film and as a result it's the best family film I've seen this year so far.4/5

'Pigs on the wing'.The producer must be a big Pink Floyd fan.

from London, for their safety amid the bombings. These two, Cyril and Cecelia, are stuck-up and spoiled and create problems the minute they set foot at the place. Finally, the family needs to rent a tractor to bring in the barley harvest and Isabel is selling some prized piglets AND working part time in dotty Mrs. Dockerty's Maggie Smith general store, to help pay the cost. In the midst of all of this turmoil, a heroine comes calling. She is Nanny McPhee Emma Thompson , that's little "c", big "P", thank you. This gal, warts and all, has a magic cane she thumps on the ground, to keep children behaving nicely, if persuasion doesn't help. Before long, Nanny M has settled disputes amongst the cousins and aids the children in rescuing the piglets when Phil lets them out. But, with continuing money problems, a missing in action father, and Phil's tricks, can the family make it through the harvest? This lovely film is a joy. Many thanks to Emma T, who not only stars but wrote and produced it, too. The other cast members, including Gyllenhaal, Smith, Ifans, Ralph Fiennes, the talented children and all of the others, do the film justice, too. McGregor's role is almost a cameo but he's there when it counts. Then, too, the English countryside is gorgeous, the muddy farm not withstanding, and the cinematography is very fine indeed. Therefore, the flick is also a feast for the eyes. Costumes and make-up are wonderful, also, for Gyllenhaal looks so pretty with her bright baby blues and sweetness. The plot is fun and full of life and so is the snappy direction. So, in spite of being a sequel, this movie can stand alone and very well. Nevertheless, a back-to-back viewing of both films will be nice in the near future. Thank you, dear Emma, for giving us these two lovely movies. They are smart, funny, magical, offer great life lessons, and are a splendid return on money spent.