MOVIE REVIEW - Saving Mr. Banks

There's been a ton of buzz about the new Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks flick Saving Mr. Banks.

First off, this movie starts off on a high note with me, as it is a story you absolutely don't know and have not seen before. So originality points are high.  This is the story of how P.L. Travers and Walt Disney came to make the movie Mary Poppins in 1964.  And it was not an easy trip for either to take.

We start in 1961 when Travers (Thompson), finally decides to meet with Disney (Hanks) in Los Angeles to discuss granting the rights for Disney to make the movie.  Travers who lives in London, is the author of the Poppins series and she is now an older woman who has money troubles. The royalties have run out on the 20 year old Poppins books and the movie seems like the logical step to take for her self, and her characters.   But as we will learn, that is where the logic stops with Travers.

She is insanely difficult in negotiations and development of the soon to be iconic movie. She fights Disney and his crew all the way, and refuses to grant the rights unless she gets her way on every single thing about the movie.  Then, her childhood is told in flashback form, woven into our main story, and you can start to learn why she is the way she is.  And what is behind her basically horrible disposition and both personal and professional.  If you find yourself not caring about her childhood, you may not be alone. But they ram it down your throat, and you have to stick with it to get to you really want to go.  Disney has tried everything to get this movie made and has been after her for 20 years.  But she is standing in his way at every turn.  Clearly, the movie is made but it wasn't easy.

This movie gets off to a real slow start as they develop Travers as a difficult woman, and Disney as a persistent and affable guy.  The problem is, many times in these kind of roles the character portrayed as difficult, has a hint of charm, and enough quirkiness as to make her palatable.  But not here.  You soon find out she is so horrible, she is tough to take. You simply hate her, and that drags this movie down.  Even if this ins deadly accurate, she is fatiguing to watch.  You also find that this is really a movie about her life and not really about Disney's quest to make a classic.  This is far more dark than you might think too, but it's not a deal breaker.  But it teeters dangerously close.

When the ice melts, you become able to stomach Travers and her despicable manner, the movie begins to gain momentum and improves rapidly.  As the story finally sheds the darkness of Travers' childhood, and focuses on her relationship with Disney the movie can be resolved and you feel better about being there.

Thompson is great, and will be bandied around award time as the brutal Travers.  Hanks as Disney is wonderful.  Although you will wonder where he goes for much of this movie.  His performance in the last 30 minutes of this is vintage Hanks as he successfully swoops in and really saves the day.  This movie also boasts a nice supporting cast including Colin Farrell, Paul Giamatti, and others that really help transport you to 1961 Hollywood, as do the wonderful costumes, and terrific sets. It is fun to watch this all come together in the end.  But sometimes the road there is littered with a bunch of bones you have to wade trough first.

Saving Mr. Banks.   In the end a solid movie, that somehow stands on a shaky foundation.