Saving Mr. Banks - B+

Rated PG-13, 120 minutes

Touching "Saving Mr. Banks" will be one of your favorite things this holiday season

Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson

Poignant and superbly acted by two brilliant, Oscar-winning actors, "Saving Mr. Banks," the story behind the making of the classic Disney film "Mary Poppins," is one of the year's best films. P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) goes to Hollywood to assist with the making of the musical "Mary Poppins" based on her series of books, she struggles with the upbeat adaptation helmed by Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) as she thinks back on her rough childhood and her father (Colin Farrell) who was the inspiration for the story's patriarch, Mr. Banks. Directed by John Lee Hancock ("The Blind Side") and written by Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith, "Saving Mr. Banks" is a stirring, affecting look at the story behind a Disney classic film, grounded by two winning, Oscar-worthy performances from Hanks and particularly from Thompson as Travers. Hancock smoothly blends the flashbacks with the current day story, though it's far more effective as a behind-the-scenes tale, which have the most entertaining scenes. Paul Giamatti, B.J. Novak ("The Office"), Jason Schwartzman ("Moonrise Kingdom") and Bradley Whitford ("The West Wing") all contribute strong supporting turns as Travers chauffer, the songwriting duo The Sherman Brothers and screenwriter Don DaGradi, all of whose jobs were not made easy by the persnickety, opinionated Travers. Though you have a sense of where the film is going, especially if you know how the hit film "Mary Poppins" turned out, "Saving Mr. Banks" is very touching, with the Thompson-Hanks chemistry the most memorable part of the film; there are a couple of scenes near the end of the film that only underscore this, particularly Hanks' final monologue to convince the need to turn over the rights to the film, and Thompson's emotional outpouring while watching the completed film. Just as Travers and her Mary Poppins were an escape from a particularly sad, rough upbringing, "Saving Mr. Banks" is a fascinating, often wonderful escape to another world. Stay over the credits to hear the real Travers on tape as she bosses the Disney crew around.

Wes's Grade: B+