I’ve never been a true fan of “Mary Poppins.” I didn’t even know there was a back story until I saw a preview for this movie. If you were in the same boat I was, or if you’ve never heard of “Saving Mr. Banks,” then sit back and enjoy. Actually, you should probably sit up because reading a newspaper while sitting back might be a little difficult.
I don’t remember the first time I watched Mary Poppins; it was most likely before I could even write. Either way, that doesn’t make Mary Poppins a bad story. It’s a cute story and film that is family friendly and has a targeted audience that is much younger than your average high school student.
Saving Mr. Banks is the entire backstory of the author of Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers. It follows Travers as she tries to help Walt Disney make her film. It doesn’t sound that interesting; however, I assure you that even if you aren’t that big of a fan of Mary Poppins, or Disney Movies in general, that you will enjoy this movie.
Saving Mr. Banks is the backstory of why Travers wrote these books. If you’re a little confused, let me try to clear things up.
Travers had a rough childhood, in which her aunt helped her family while her father was dying. Her aunt was the source of inspiration for Mary Poppins. Walt Disney then hounded Travers for years to make a movie based on the books. Travers was reluctant to do so because she wasn’t a fan of cartoons or Disney in general. Obviously, in the end, she submits and lets Disney make the movie. However, this didn’t happen without her input in the making of the film.
While this is going on, you learn about Travers’ childhood and the “why” behind all of her reluctance. It’s a heart-touching story which really clears up the real story behind Mary Poppins. The best aspect of this film is that you don’t even need to be that big of a Mary Poppins fan to enjoy the movie. I would recommend that everyone watches this film, even if you enjoyed the Mary Poppins story in the slightest.