Winnie the Pooh – movie review

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I personally don’t know anybody who doesn’t like Winnie the Pooh. While most people were out watching the other movie franchise that was released this weekend, I wanted to give that “tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff” some love. Winnie the Pooh was just as charming as one might expect.

Most of the favorites all had their own part of the story that worked well with the other parts. Pooh was, of course, on his eternal quest for honey; everyone was in search for a new tail for Eeyore; Owl was writing his memoirs; and Tigger was set to be the hero of the Hundred Acre Wood. All these stories came together when they were on the search for Christopher Robin, which is where Rabbit and Piglet had a chance to shine. Kanga and Roo were there, they just didn’t have as big a part in the story, and even a balloon got its day in the limelight. Rabbit has always been my favorite, and there’s a part where he’s imagining winning fame, fortune, and girls that made me giggle.

Tigger’s part of the story, and more specifically, the part where he tries to make Eeyore into “Tigger Two” is my favorite part of the movie. Despite the fact that Tigger proud proclaims “the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I’m the only one,” it makes him sad that Eeyore got left out just for being slow. Tigger is a wonderful friend, but completely insane. Poor Eeyore has to run away in fear, and I don’t blame him.

I loved the first part of the end credit sequence. It was live action stills with real stuffed animals acting out the various scenes from the movie. It was totally adorable and made me miss the simpler times in which I had such an active imagination in playing with my toys. One thing I do have to say about the movie is that I like to read, which did make parts of the story funnier in the storybook scenes, but sometimes it spoiled me just a bit – I read ahead and saw what was coming next. Nothing major, but it’s still odd to know what the characters are about to do and say.

I was surprised that Tom Kenny was Rabbit. When I think Tom Kenny, I don’t think Rabbit. I think Heffer Wolf, Spongebob Squarepants, the Mayor of Townsville, or other un-Rabbit-like voices that I know. Rabbit is timid, though he has his moments. The reason for the surprise, of course, is that Tom Kenny nailed it. There is no way I could have loved any Winnie the Pooh movie if I couldn’t love Rabbit, and this was not a problem.

Craig Ferguson was also notable as Owl. I love Craig Ferguson, but I never loved Owl. Owl is a boring blowhard, which makes him hard to like. Ferguson nailed it, but he added something. I don’t know how to explain it, really, but I felt a lot more of the sense that Owl talks so much because if he keeps talking long enough, there will be a kernel of truth in whatever he says. He’s supposed to be the knowledgeable one, and if he doesn’t know something, then why not keep talking until even he thinks he understands it? I have a new appreciation for Owl.

Overall, Winnie the Pooh was a wonderful movie that captured the magic of childhood. I think children will be happy to see it. It is a shame that it came out the same weekend as that other movie which I will not name, but now that everyone’s seen that one, maybe they can give Pooh Bear a chance.

One Comment

1. 

   Saso Alauf

   July 18, 2011 at 5:00 pm

   I agree completely. Not taken by hairy wizards, and this animated movie was a very pleasant surprise, since I really missed those simple cartoons, where the drawings were cute or even beautiful, instead of either 3d or amazingly ugly.

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