Christopher Robin - Review

 

Winnie the Pooh is probably the most unlikely candidate to make a comeback in today’s age of excitement and genre pushing excess. He’s slow, witty and tends to meander about. Rarely does he do anything with expediency and most of his stories tend to have an element of sadness to them. The latest film featuring the bear of very little brain, “Christopher Robin”, is set to tell the story of what happens to the Hundred Acre Wood after its human caretaker grows up. Is the resulting story as sweet as honey or is it of very little brain as well?

Clocking in at just around an hour and forty-five minutes, “Christopher Robin” manages to hit the sweet spot in terms of storytelling and pacing. It meanders about slowly, allowing its story to take as much time as necessary to build its conflicts to satisfying emotional crescendos.

Not once does it overstay its welcome or feel too slow, thanks to excellent visuals and voice work from its entire cast, especially the legendary Jim Cummings (“Darkwing Duck,” “Goof Troop”). This man has been voicing Pooh and Tigger for over twenty years, and his performance as the eponymous bumbling bear is still wonderful.

It is taken a step further though, thanks to the intelligence of the script. Writers Alex Ross Perry (“Listen Up Phillip”) and Allison Schroeder (“Hidden Figures”) go to great lengths to make this the most mature film of the Pooh franchise. Material relating to the importance of family and growing up is introduced, but it’s done in such a wonderfully scatterbrained way that it keeps the feeling of routine out of the picture.

The writer and director Mark Forster (“Stranger Than Fiction,” “Finding Neverland”) isn't afraid to inject somberness into this adventure without warning. It leads to moments of genuine shock and emotion, which in turn allows the emotional payoffs to feel just as impactful.

Ewan McGregor (“Moulin Rouge,” “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith”) is excellent as the elder version of Christopher, keeping a balanced childlike wonder and adult pessimism throughout the film. Haley Atwell (“Agent Carter,” “The Duchess”) is also great as his wife Evelyn, but the standout of the humans is young Bronte Carmichael as Robin’s daughter Madeline. She’s completely adorable and wonderfully charming, feeling right at home with the creatures of the Hundred Acre Wood.

Geoff Zanelli (“Disturbia,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”) and Jon Brion (“Punch Drunk Love,” “Lady Bird”) manage to incorporate the classic Pooh themes into the music. Many characters have the melodies to their own songs playing underneath scenes involving them, and there’s a delightful piano whimsy to the entire affair.

Pooh and his gang of misfits all look great, with attention to detail in every facet. Tigger’s worn face resembles gray facial scruff, and the felt pads of Pooh’s hands are worn from years of play. It’s a gorgeous film in its simplicity, opting for quiet practical forest shots instead of busy computer-generated backgrounds.

Like previously stated, “Christopher Robin” does not overstay its welcome or have bad pacing. However, it does take a bit to really get going, and while its meandering nature is charming and lighthearted, it may seem slow and off putting to some.

Also, while the more mature and adult nature of many of the story elements is handled well, it results in a film that is fine for kids around the ages of 9 and upwards, but those younger may be scared or frightened of some plot elements that stray further than normal from the general family friendly nature of Pooh’s other outings.

“Christopher Robin” is an incredibly sweet and simple film. It knows exactly what it wants to say and how to get it across, without sacrificing intelligence, wit, or the maturity its story needs. Excellent vocal and physical performances balance out a meandering story that results in a film a lot like the silly old bear himself. Sweet, lovable, a bit slow, and endlessly charming. 4/5