Directed by Susanna White. Starring Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rhys Ifans, Maggie Smith, Daniel Mays, Bill Bailey, Ewan McGregor, Ralph Fiennes G cert, gen release, 102 minutes

EMMA THOMPSON has an impressive phone book. Take a glance at the cast list above and marvel at the calibre and profile of the acting talent.

But despite those fine thespians, this critic wasn’t too excited about spending time with the magical Nanny McPhee (Thompson) again. The first film was fine, but surely once was enough? However, just like the reluctant kids in her charge, this critic grew to enjoy his time with the eccentric carer.

Nanny McPhee and the Big Banghas a rural setting and takes place during the second World War. Before we meet Nanny, we're introduced to three hyperactive kids and their harried mother, Mrs Green (Maggie Gyllenhaal with a nice English accent). Her husband (Ewan McGregor) is away at war, and his no-good brother (Rhys Ifans) is scheming to sell the family farm to clear gambling debts.

As if this weren’t enough, Mrs Green has also been saddled with a ghastly nephew and niece from London. Enter Ms McPhee, to sprinkle a little magic in the air.

This eventful, quite charming film moves along briskly and has a peculiar rural atmosphere reminiscent of both Roald Dahl and Worzel Gummidge. Parents might take guilty pleasure in Nanny's old school clip-on-the-ear discipline (done telekinetically so she doesn't lay a finger on 'em) and the kids will enjoy both the muddy, belching slapstick and the acting by barnyard animals great and small.

The war setting is a mite heavy for a kids film: Ralph Fiennes's grumpy general could be related to his deadly serious character in The English Patient. Overall, though, the tone is jaunty and fun.