Nanny McPhee Returns

Children are shown punching, slapping, pulling hair, hitting, kicking, and wrestling aggressively with one another. Under Nanny McPhee's magical influence, children are seen punching themselves, pulling their own ears, or banging their heads against walls until they learn their lessons. Villainous characters, Miss Topsey and Miss Turvey, explicitly threaten Uncle Phil by stating they will 'take his kidneys' or 'stuff' him due to gambling debts. A tension-filled scene involves the children attempting to defuse a large unexploded bomb that has landed in their field.

British profanities such as 'bloody' and 'blimey' are used once or twice. The word 'hell' is uttered by a youngster in one instance. God's name is misused once or twice. The word 'poo' (referring to dung) is used frequently throughout the film, particularly in early scenes, as a source of rude humor and as a descriptor for the farm environment, with Cyril Gray commenting on 'the land of poo'.

Nanny McPhee employs her magical walking stick to enforce lessons and resolve chaotic situations, such as causing children to magically 'fight themselves' as a consequence of their squabbling. Her magic also leads to fantastical events like piglets performing synchronized swimming or crops being harvested instantly, serving to teach the children cooperation and hard work. Nanny McPhee's appearance itself transforms (losing warts and her unibrow) as the children learn their lessons, indicating her magic is tied to positive behavioral change. Christian reviews generally interpret the magic as a benign fantasy element, more akin to Mary Poppins or Narnia than dark witchcraft, with one suggesting Nanny McPhee functions as a 'prophetic angel figure'.

Nanny McPhee's initial appearance is described as 'hideously ugly' and 'frightful-faced,' which, combined with her mysterious entry and magical abilities, can be unsettling to younger children. The debt collectors, Miss Topsey and Miss Turvey, are portrayed as burly and intimidating women who threaten Uncle Phil, creating a sense of unease. A scene involving the children disarming an unexploded bomb on the farm generates significant tension and potential fear. Additionally, the news, albeit temporary, that the children's father has been killed in action provides a genuinely sad and intense emotional moment.

The Green children are initially depicted as 'quite the handful' who sass their mother, scuffle, and screech, while their cousins, Cyril and Celia, arrive with 'high-and-mighty attitudes' and engage in squabbling and class-conscious insults. The children demonstrate defiance by yelling at adults and engaging in name-calling like 'poo-man,' 'beast,' and 'idiot.' Cyril also talks back to his father, exhibiting disrespect towards authority. The entire premise of Nanny McPhee's arrival is to instill discipline, respect, tidiness, and manners, highlighting the initial prevalence of these negative behaviors.