Directed by Marc Forster
Starring Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, and Jim Cummings
Winnie The Pooh was one Disney property I spent a lot of time with in my youth. I had all the original shorts and The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh tv series on VHS, and getting the chance to rent Welcome to Pooh Corner from the local Blockbuster, or just watch it on the Disney Channel while home sick from school was a treat. A set of rubber figurines from the Disney Store (the old school Disney Store, not what it is today) was one of my prized possessions. When I met Jim Cummings at a Comic Con a few years ago, I asked if he could say my name in Tigger's voice, which he replied, in Tigger's voice, "Chris Flaherty?? Don't be ridicurous!!". I wish I recorded that...
Anyway, so when Christopher Robin was announced amidst several of Disney's other live-action remakes, sequels, and "re-imaginings" of their animated classics, it was one I had more interest in over others. It was easily one of the more original films in development, and the concept sounded really intriguing, like a Winnie The Pooh version of Ted with a splash of Hook. Christopher Robin finally hit theaters this weekend, and it is a very simple, wonderful little film.
Acting as sort of a sequel to 1977's The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh, the film opens on a Goodbye Party for Christopher Robin (played in this sequence by child actor Orton O'Brie, very stiffly I might add.) who is preparing to go away to school. It plays out as a live-action recreation of that film's final scene, and it is rather nice (Despite poor child acting). We then flash-forward through Christopher Robin's life and glimpse the many ups and down he faces, from getting married and becoming a father, to losing his own father at a young age, and serving in World War II.
In the present day we now find Christopher (McGregor) a workaholic at a luggage company, and neglectful of his wife Evelyn (Atwell) and daughter Madelyn (Bronte Charmichael), whom he's sending off to boarding school by the end of the summer. When his superiors task him with cutting 20% of expenditures, Christopher must stay home and work the weekend, when he promised to travel with Evelyn and Madelyn to their countryside cottage.
Not soon after he's left alone does Winnie The Pooh (Cummings) appear at his home in London, asking Christopher Robin to help find his missing friends. Christopher reluctantly returns to the Hundred Acre Wood with Pooh to look for Piglet (Nick Mohammed), Eeyore (Brad Garrett), Tigger (Cummings) and the rest of the gang, rediscovering his youth, and who he used to be.
It is very similar to Hook, in which the main character returns to his childhood fantasies, thus getting a reminder of who they are and what's important to life. Christopher Robin doesn't go super in-depth to the themes of growing up, and staying true to yourself, but it's a Winnie The Pooh film, it's going to keep it simple. The story-line is fairly predictable and you could surely guess the resolution. Their's no real sense of urgency to the story, save for a "race against time" motif in third act, but even then it's tame. Again though, this is a Winnie The Pooh film, and we shouldn't expect loads of drama.
Christopher Robin's strengths lie in the heart and humor of its characters. Pooh and company are just as the same as they were years ago. They haven't been modernized or updated for today's audiences. Their brand of humor ensures plenty of smiles throughout the film. Pooh's fish-out-of-water antics and Eeyore's gloominess definitely steal the show. The film definitely has some bleaker moments, but they're heavily balanced out with the jovial, innocent nature of its cast and overall message.
Ewan McGregor does a fantastic job playing off his imaginary co-stars. He brings a lot of heart and charm to the role, and he's clearly having fun with it. Hayley Atwell is radiant and shines every moment she's on screen as Evelyn, but sadly is used sparingly. Bronte Charmichael is adorable as little Madleyn, as does more to hold her own with her human and non-human co-stars.
Disney/voice-acting legend Jim Cummings hasn't missed a beat as Pooh, or Tigger. He flawlessly brings these characters to life once again. Obviously his Pooh is the one that stands out the most here, with a lot of funny and emotional moments, but Tigger has plenty of fun here. Brad Garrett gives a great performance at Eeyore. It's perfect casting. Nick Mohammed also makes a perfect Piglet, capturing his sweetness and cowardice. Finally, Mark Gatiss plays Christopher Robin's boss, and he's fine, but he's just playing Mycroft from Sherlock again.
The look of the film is pretty spot-on. Instead of trying to recreate the look of the animated films, it harks back to the original illustrations from the A.A. Milne books, and the scenery does in fact look like a storybook come to life. The music is very sweet, and it's also nice to hear some new songs from legendary composer Richard Sherman through the end credits.
If you grew up with these characters like I did, you'll find it hard to take issue with Christopher Robin. It doesn't go for the emotional jugular like say Toy Story 3, but it doesn't really have to. The Winnie The Pooh stories are very simple, and this a very simple film. There will still be plenty of moments for you to reach for tissues. Trust me. Christopher Robin is a very fun, kind-hearted, film that will resonate with adults and children. It's sure to become another Disney classic.
That's the end of this review. TTFN. Ta-Ta For Now.
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