Wow, that’s two people that actually dislike Mary Poppins. I would also strongly disagree about your assessment of the father. Both parents were largely ignoring their children and foisting them off on the nanny, the father concerned about his career at the bank, the mother concerned about her political activism. I think that was a highly realistic portrayal and by the end of the film, had the parents realizing how important it was to bond with the children (as Bert’s song said, (before) it was too late). Both David Tomlinson and Glynnis Johns were magnificent in their portrayals, as were the children. Certainly eons better than the “dumb dads” and mouthy kids we see portrayed today.
I don’t like it either. It’s a dreary kids’ film that goes on way too long.