Written by: Kevin Berge
Who knew that Christopher Robin would end up becoming Ewan McGregor? Suddenly, I'm seeing Trainspotting in a whole new light. (Image Courtesy of: latimes.com)
Quick Take: Disney's Christopher Robin is a bizarre mix of nostalgia for the Winnie the Pooh stories and classic sweet themes on family and livelihood that is almost a direct play on Marry Poppins. Oddly constructed but well meaning, this movie is fine but does not seem wholly inticing for any demographic or age group.
***This review will not contain spoilers beyond the basic set-up of Christopher Robin, so anyone can read ahead without worry of ruining their viewing experience.***
Honestly, just hearing there was going to be a live action Winnie the Pooh sequel with a grown up Christopher Robin turned me off. Sure, Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge!) was attached as the lead, and he's great. Sure, it was bringing back a classic franchise that should be celebrated by a new young audience.
It just had the stink of Hollywood attempting to milk a franchise without a real plan, and, while Disney's Christopher Robin is better than I expected, it did line up mostly with my expectations. This is a bizarre little movie that does not know what it wants to be.
This movie focuses on Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) after he has grown up, having largely forgotten his past adventures until Winnie the Pooh (Jim Cummings) appears at his home in London to try and ask Robin for help in finding Piglet (Nick Mohammed), Tigger, and all his other friends.
It is a simple story that sounds like it could work well in the same storybook-like format as past Pooh and Robin stories, but this movie complicates itself too often. The storytelling moves are all over the place, and it's often hard to tell what is trying to be accomplished.
Even though it is only 104 minutes long, the film feels much longer as the story shifts from questioning Robin's role as father figure for his daughter Madeline (Bronte Carmichael), provider for his wife Evelyn (Hayley Atwell), manager for a luggage division led by Giles Winslow (Mark Gatiss), and former child and adventurer.
At times, this is Winnie the Pooh. At times, it is Mary Poppins. There's even moments where it's Big Fish. The worst mistake the movie makes is simply not really feeling like it appeals to children. This is not all that exciting or funny a film, so it will likely not resonate with a younger audience.
Honestly, just hearing there was going to be a live action Winnie the Pooh sequel with a grown up Christopher Robin turned me off. Sure, Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge!) was attached as the lead, and he's great. Sure, it was bringing back a classic franchise that should be celebrated by a new young audience.
It just had the stink of Hollywood attempting to milk a franchise without a real plan, and, while Disney's Christopher Robin is better than I expected, it did line up mostly with my expectations. This is a bizarre little movie that does not know what it wants to be.
This movie focuses on Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) after he has grown up, having largely forgotten his past adventures until Winnie the Pooh (Jim Cummings) appears at his home in London to try and ask Robin for help in finding Piglet (Nick Mohammed), Tigger, and all his other friends.
It is a simple story that sounds like it could work well in the same storybook-like format as past Pooh and Robin stories, but this movie complicates itself too often. The storytelling moves are all over the place, and it's often hard to tell what is trying to be accomplished.
Even though it is only 104 minutes long, the film feels much longer as the story shifts from questioning Robin's role as father figure for his daughter Madeline (Bronte Carmichael), provider for his wife Evelyn (Hayley Atwell), manager for a luggage division led by Giles Winslow (Mark Gatiss), and former child and adventurer.
At times, this is Winnie the Pooh. At times, it is Mary Poppins. There's even moments where it's Big Fish. The worst mistake the movie makes is simply not really feeling like it appeals to children. This is not all that exciting or funny a film, so it will likely not resonate with a younger audience.
What happened to the Hundred Acre Wood? It's like Zack Snyder came along and washed out all its color. (Image Courtesy of: deseretnews.com)
As far as adult audiences are concerned, the story and conflicts are too simple and undeveloped to be interested. The audience seems to be those who grew up with the Winnie the Pooh stories and still love them enough to get nostalgic over the course of the film.
McGregor is a fun Christopher Robin, occasionally playing up the character's return to his own childlike wonderment while still being a father who went through tough times. Other than him though, no one really gets a chance to stand out in this film.
Director Marc Forster (World War Z) has often been attached to big projects and produced satisfactory results, but his work here doesn't really stand out. The pacing is messy. The character connections are underdeveloped. The acting is about on par for the talent involved.
He is working with a fairly messy screenplay though to be fair. Written by the talented trio of Alex Ross Perry (Listen Up Philip), Tom McCarthy (Spotlight), and Allison Schroeder (Hidden Figures), it feels like these writers are clashing over style without creating anything unique.
The script has many attempted jokes that don't land while the repeated themes and lines do not land cleanly. The climax of the film is especially messy, trying to be emotional and resonant as well as funny with nothing really working.
More than anything though, I cannot understand why this film looks the way it does. The coloring is all off to the point of feeling washed out, and, if there was anything this movie needed to be, it is bright. This makes the CGI Winnie the Pooh and pals look slightly more realistic but far less interesting.
Disney's Christopher Robin is ultimately just dull. It wastes those involved by wanting to be too many things to too many different people, ultimately not being satisfying enough for any audience. It's not a bad movie, just a completely unnecessary one that isn't as fun as it should be.
McGregor is a fun Christopher Robin, occasionally playing up the character's return to his own childlike wonderment while still being a father who went through tough times. Other than him though, no one really gets a chance to stand out in this film.
Director Marc Forster (World War Z) has often been attached to big projects and produced satisfactory results, but his work here doesn't really stand out. The pacing is messy. The character connections are underdeveloped. The acting is about on par for the talent involved.
He is working with a fairly messy screenplay though to be fair. Written by the talented trio of Alex Ross Perry (Listen Up Philip), Tom McCarthy (Spotlight), and Allison Schroeder (Hidden Figures), it feels like these writers are clashing over style without creating anything unique.
The script has many attempted jokes that don't land while the repeated themes and lines do not land cleanly. The climax of the film is especially messy, trying to be emotional and resonant as well as funny with nothing really working.
More than anything though, I cannot understand why this film looks the way it does. The coloring is all off to the point of feeling washed out, and, if there was anything this movie needed to be, it is bright. This makes the CGI Winnie the Pooh and pals look slightly more realistic but far less interesting.
Disney's Christopher Robin is ultimately just dull. It wastes those involved by wanting to be too many things to too many different people, ultimately not being satisfying enough for any audience. It's not a bad movie, just a completely unnecessary one that isn't as fun as it should be.
