{"id":362,"date":"2018-08-04T01:24:41","date_gmt":"2018-08-04T01:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=362"},"modified":"2018-08-04T01:25:08","modified_gmt":"2018-08-04T01:25:08","slug":"disneys-christopher-robin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=362","title":{"rendered":"Disney’s Christopher Robin"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Earlier this year I was smitten by a movie about the adventures of a marmalade-obsessed British bear; it was \u201cPaddington 2<\/a>,\u201d and if you saw the film, I don\u2019t even have to explain to you why I absolutely loved it.<\/p>\n

Taking a crack with its own bear tale, Disney is stirring up memories of childhood fun and simpler times with \u201cChristopher Robin,\u201d a live-action flick about that ragtag bunch from Hundred Acre Wood and its \u201chunny\u201d-loving skipper, Winnie the Pooh.<\/p>\n

And I absolutely loved it.<\/p>\n

Director Marc Forster (\u201cQuantum of Solace\u201d) flawlessly introduces everything right from the start with pages of a storybook flipping before our eyes, stopping to allow us to read snippets here and there so we know the setting (\u201c\u2026 deep in the Hundred Acre Wood\u2026\u201d) and the characters (\u201c\u2026 Christopher Robin plays with his friends\u2026\u201d) and the details (\u201c\u2026 comes the day\u2026 they say \u2018goodbye\u2019\u2026\u201d).<\/p>\n

We watch young Christopher Robin (Orton O\u2019Brien) have a final tea party with his friends before saying \u201cfairwell\u201d and exiting through that magical doorway \u2013 and re-entering the real world.<\/p>\n

His final childhood chat with Pooh (voice by Jim Cummings) is profoundly wistful \u2013 and probably will make you cry.<\/p>\n

Chapter titles in the book continue to detail Christopher Robin\u2019s life as he \u201cleaves childhood behind,\u201d each step of the way enhanced by a sketch of the action that then morphs into real life \u2013 and then back to a sketch, all the while Pooh stands at the doorway, waiting and hoping to see his friend again.<\/p>\n

The drawings, by the way, that we see moving across the pages are based on Winnie the Pooh illustrations by E.H. Shepard that accompanied the stories of A.A. Milne.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a brilliant way to show this story literally jumping off the page.<\/p>\n

Many years later, a now-grown Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) has a wife, Evelyn (Hayley Atwell), and a daughter, Madeline (Bronte Carmichael) \u2013 and a job that sadly has become his top priority.<\/p>\n

What to do, what to do?<\/p>\n

But with some unexpected help \u2013 or \u201cexpotition,\u201d if you will \u2013 from some old friends, he may just remember that \u201cdoing nothing often leads to the very best of something.\u201d<\/p>\n

That Pooh! He\u2019s like a more colorful and less wrinkly Yoda, full of cyclical and nonsensical philosophy that\u2019s actually<\/em> substantial and genius in its simplicity: \u201cI always get to where I\u2019m going by walking awary from where I\u2019ve been.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a bear with few facial features and even fewer expressions, he sure knows how to deliver a most sincere message.<\/p>\n

When he brushes his paw against Christopher Robin\u2019s eyes and tells him in that soft, matter-of-fact Pooh tone, \u201cit\u2019s still you, looking out,\u201d you\u2019ll be sitting in a puddle of your own emotions because that bear has a way of tugging at your heart.<\/p>\n

I think a lot of that is because of Cummings\u2019 distinct and familiar voice; he\u2019s been the voice of Winnie the Pooh since the late 80s, and hearing it again brings about those warm feelings of nostalgia.<\/p>\n

And joining Pooh is the always energetic Tigger (also voiced by Cummings), who even sings his Tigger song; the downtrodden yet sometimes hilarious Eyeore (Brad Garrett); unassuming worry-wart Piglet (Nick Mohammed); Rabbit (Peter Capaldi); Owl (Toby Jones); Kanga (Sophie Okonedo) and Roo (Sara Sheen).<\/p>\n

These characters are fluffy and real<\/em>, like stuffed toys brought to life by movement so fluid you\u2019ll buy into it completely.<\/p>\n

McGregor\u2019s interactions with them \u2013 mostly with Pooh \u2013 are delightful and captivating and authentic and whimsical. And there are unexpected moments of humor that caught me off guard, witty comments or reactions that had me legitimately laughing out loud.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s action and adventure, and there are quiet moments of meaningful discussion and subtle messages.<\/p>\n

The delicate lighting gives the overall look of the film a pleasant, vintage-like feel. There are select focus images that metaphorically call attention to little details.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s mention of Heffalumps and Woozles \u2013 which, of course, are real things because \u201cit\u2019s on the sign!\u201d<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also reminisce with some of those famous Pooh lines, such as, \u201cThere\u2019s a rumbly in my tumbly,\u201d and, \u201cPeople say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silly \u2018ol bear!<\/p>\n

Sure Winnie the Pooh is a timeless collection of classic stories for children, but what Disney has done with \u201cChristopher Robin\u201d is delivered a lovely and very sweet piece of entertainment that offers something for all generations.<\/p>\n

It has set a place at the tea party for everyone.<\/p>\n

You have just enjoyed the insights of Movie Addict Mel, a cinema dork and conversational writer. Follow her on Twitter\u00a0@movieaddictmel<\/a>, and \u201clike\u201d her Facebook page\u00a0www.facebook.com\/movieaddictmel<\/a><\/em>. You also can email her at movieaddictmel@outlook.com<\/em>.<\/p>\n