Most importantly, Van Dyke and Lansbury get to sing and, in Van Dykes case, dance.
For a movie musical,thisis what matters.
Its no secret that older people dont get featured a lot in mainstream entertainment.
(Depending on your gender and other identities, this exact age varies.)
Our older citizens are invisible because they have been pushed aside.
These are the qualities that do or do not give us worth in a capitalist society.
Therefore, for the most part, there is no place for older people in our society and culture.
The reality represented inMary Poppins Returnsis wonderfully different, however.
Here, they are part of the community.
They get to sing.
And, in one of the most wondrous scenes of the entire film, they get to dance.
The minute I heard I was going to do a little number, that sold me, Van DyketoldPeople.
And I thought I could contribute by just being a little bit of a reminder of the original.
And I think it turned out well.
I got to jump up on a desk and do a dance number.
It surprised everybody, but nobody was as surprised as I was.
We did several takes of it, and I was just amazed.
And I enjoyed it, of course.
Reader, itdidturn out well.
Past his tapping and singing, Van Dykes bank manager character straight-up saves the day for the Banks family.
For once, however, the joke is not on the older character, but on us.
Van Dykes bank manager is sharp, kind, and ultimately a deus ex machina who saves our protagonists.
Mary Poppins is there to remind them thattheres always another ship, whatever that ship may represent.
For Michael, it is enjoying life after the death of his wife.
For Mr. Dawes, Jr., it is another tap dance.
When it comes to old age representation in Hollywood, its not nearly enough.
But it is a joyous start.
