Overall, this sequel is almost over the top and as usual for sequel, seemingly more dramatic, more spectacular, more impossible, and yet Emma Thompson's script is in some ways even more compelling and more emotively intimate and powerful. The early scenes of various contraptions seems to take away the charm and seemingly gimmicky and yet Emma's screenplay ties them together. The scene of London seems also to be overly fantastical and yet Emma's writing never seems to definitely cross the boundaries of acceptability and fantasy. This sequel is even more touching and powerful in its presentation of children and their issues, especially the the spoil boy and his father in one of the most carefully refined and strongest scenes. Maggie Gyllenhaal does a nice job in a character that doesn't reflect her general starlet persona. While there are the usual stereotypical antics there seems to be an added flair to most. Overall while this movie is slightly a mixed bag, its presentation, its message, and the characters of the kids are both obnoxiously overly dramatic and yet again at the same time there's some underlying restraint and dignified at the same making this sequel an improvement on the first in many places. An intelligent and highly above average movie for children.

Starring:

Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Ralph Fiennes

Genre:

Comedy, Family, Fantasy