New Winnie The Pooh movie hits the (sweet) spot for family entertainment.

[DaddyB]

This poster for the new "Winnie The Pooh" movie, with all the hundred acre wood characters on board in a sea of honey (you can get it as a desktop wallpaper here) is a perfect image for getting even the most jaded animation fan into the mood for some serious fun. Or not so serious as nothing in the Christopher Robin's playground can be taken too seriously, you know.

From the opening scene of the film in Christopher Robin's room with his playthings strewn about and the perfectly english intonations of John Cleese (almost making me forget the original voice of Sebastian Cabot) to the opening of the storybook of Winnie The Pooh, you know you're in for some old fashioned, nostalgic storytelling. Zooey Deschanel sings the theme song this time around (with backing help from Kristen Anderson-Lopez who is not only the voice of "Kanga" here, but a co-writer of the original songs from this film) and her sweet lilting voice sets the tone of "nostalgic yet new". In fact, the scoring and all of the original songs blended perfectly with the original Sherman Brothers tunes.

The voice casting, by the way, is perfect. Even late night talk show host Craig Ferguson's voice of "Owl" never once speaks for the all too typical "Hey! I'm a star doing a cartoon voice!" that has become the pattern the past 10 years or more. Jim Cummings Winnie The Pooh is perfectly as Sterling Holloway as Sterling himself ever was almost 40 years ago, and Mr. Cummings doubles perfectly as Paul Winchell's "Tigger" too. Of course, he's been the voice of Pooh and Tigger for Disney since 1988.

Two story arcs find their way into this film, meandering here and there and taking slight breaks for songs and perhaps a smackeral of honey. The primary is the hunt for a replacement for Eeyore's tail, and the second is the panicked rescue attempt of Christopher Robin from the dreaded "Backson" monster (Owl misread's a note from Christopher Robin telling his pals that he'll be "Back Soon"). I don't like to give away complete storylines in my reviews (I feel like that's cheating) so I'll simply say that the stories are delightful and the script is close to perfection itself. The timing is, well, perhaps my only reservation of the movie. It seemed very rushed in comparison to my memory of the originals. But, given the generational differences (and my faulty memory) this can easily be forgiven.

If you're afraid that your child is too old for Disney's "Winnie The Pooh", the screening I took part in was filled with the full age range of reviewers. Attendees were from about 6 years old to, um, me (I was probably the oldest in the room but there were plenty of other grown ups in attendance). The theaters was FULL of laughs throughout the entirety of the screening. There were some "rear-end" jokes, thanks to the location of Eeyore's tail and this played VERY well even with the older tweens. Perhaps the biggest laughs come from Owl's blundering actions and Rabbit's hyperactivity. Of course, not to be outdone, Tigger has a think or two to say when he tries to get his pal Eeyore Tiggerized for action against the monstrous Backson.

So yes, I'll give this movie 4.5 stars easily.

oh, and stay through the (once again delightfully Disney) credits...

Here are some images and videos pertaining to this WONDERFUL (and wonderfully sweet) movie:



Here's an example of how well the new music blends in with the old Winnie The Pooh music from decades ago:

(note: no plot giveaways here)
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and here's part of the opening sequence with Zooey Deschanel's lovely interpretation of the "Pooh" theme song:

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Quite possibly Disney's Best Villain Song since "Heffalumps and Woozles":

only somewhat spoiler-ish, explaining what a "backson"
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The original official trailer:

[ShrunkenNed]

So looking forward to this one - glad you liked! Too bad about the feeling rushed thing; however, perhaps that just means you left wanting more, which a good movie should do!

[bodhran105]

Gaaahhh! I really want to see the new Pooh movie! I think I have to wait for the home release. Only one theaters playing it within walking/biking distance and their prices are- astronomical.

[Disneyland_DHI]

Funny, it's on a good amount of screens near me...

[monkey4057]

Seeing it in a couple hours! Quite looking forward to it. Definitely going to listen for some AveQ in the songs (hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!)

(I shall abstain from watching the Backson clip until I've seen it in the film)

[bodhran105]

I feel both good and bad at the same time. I volunteer over by one of the theaters every so often. So I told me mum I'm volunteering tomorrow. I hope I can catch a matinee. Didn't like lying. But it's all in good deed. Must see Pooh. Maybe I can also catch a Car 2 showing.

[monkey4057]

Winnie the Pooh. Was it good? Is Pooh a bear?

Also, the Backson=awesome

[Ezra]

This film is utterly delightful. It's a thoughtful and loving tribute to the original short features. The opening titles feature Christopher Robin's bedroom looking much as it did way back when in Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, right down to the window seat. (I want those toys!) John Cleese's opening narration —"This could be the room of any small boy..."— is word-for-word identical to the opening in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and Cleese treats them respectfully. (Cleese tends to "spoof himself" at times, but here he's appropriately reserved.) Songs written Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez sound remarkably like classic Sherman Brothers songs.

Everything about this production is spot-on, including Travis Oates, who only quite recently replaced the late great John Fiedler as Piglet. I'm grateful that Craig Ferguson is wonderful a Owl. Rather than phoning in a celebrity voice, he really brings something vibrant and new to the character. (And although Jim Cummings does wonderful work, I'll always miss Paul Winchell.)

If the stories of A Tail for Eeyore and Bizy Backson seems familiar, they should: They're straight out of A. A. Milne, with none of the little character details of flourishes missing. This is everything that a Winnie the Pooh film should be.

Must see Pooh. Maybe I can also catch a Car 2 showing.

That's just what I did today!

[DaddyB]

Thanks for backing me up, Ezra!

[bodhran105]

Pooh was very nice, very fun, and quite funny. Here's my whole experience from opening short "Nessie" all down to the secret after the credits. And yes, after I went to Cars 2, a few families stayed behind to look for something special, hoping like they did see, when I told them too look after "Pooh's" credits.

SPOILERS FOLLOW!


Walking into the theater only 5 minutes before preroll, I was shocked! I was the only one in the theater! I took a nice seat in the middle. 2 pairs came in a while after me: A mom and her some, and a father and his daughter. Aaaaaaand that's all she wrote. No one else came in. Me and four other people.

So the preroll/commercials/trailers began. Muppets was amazing! Can't wait. Another Chipmunks? Hoping Smurfs is gonna be good. ANOTHER Spy Kids movie?!?!?!?!?!?!

"Nessie" begins. It's is really good. I love the plot and love the narration, images, and sounds/music. It's a good little short and I really really like it.

So Pooh opens. Here I go. First thing I think is- lord what if I don't like it. John Cleese just made that fear leave. His introduction to the film just made shivers run down my spine. I loved it! So as we enter the 100 Acre Wood we here the lovely soundtrack begin. Which I must have. I really thought that I wouldn't like the small chorus singing the theme, but Zooey Deschanel has such a wonderful voice that made my heart sing itself. She was just amazing. They recreated the classic opening so well I was thrown back into childhood of watching old vhs of Pooh.

John Cleese wakes up Pooh so funny that the young kids were laughing so loud it sounded like it was a full room. Poohs hungry and he has an important thing to do that day. He ran out of honey! Ohh, I'm sorry, it's spelled "huny."

And guess what. Eeyore is sad. Why? He lost his tail. Ohh, right, his "tael." So Pooh asks Owl for help. This was were the best comedy comes in. Owl said he needed to issue a reward. Pooh said he sneezed. "The word is 'issue' not 'achoo'!" I'm loving Craig Ferguson as Owl. And it's right. He only ads to the character and does NOT take away as trying to be a celebrity doing the voice. (Here's hoping his roles in "Brave" is as how he acted in "Pooh")

I loved the contest the gang creates to help find a new tail for Eeyore. (Now Owl couldn't remember at this point?!) It was so fun to see the look on Pooh's face to see that honey go from person to person as each attempted failed and conquered and then failed again.

Owl, thinking he's above them all helps Pooh decifer a note left by Christopher. The Backson song is brilliant and it will be the second song I get after the opening song. After they finish, you'd think Owl could see that "back soon" really does sound like "Backson." Also, apparently, the Backson is quite a busy fellow, and how would he have the time to kidnap Christopher?

The gang has a really fun time scrambling to try and capture the back. Pooh falls into the trap and while trying to save him, the rest of the gang falls with. Tigger is 'round bouncin' and Piglet is left above. I almost fell off my seat when piglet cuts up the rope! Ohh how I love the knot knot jokes. (Who's there? Pooh!) This was another high point in the humor which really was all over in the film.

I was really loving it and so was the rest of the room- the few that were there.

So Pooh collects letters that fell off the pages, makes a "letter ladder" and they climb out. Christopher Robin returns...

Aaaaand. To tell you the truth. That is the film. Pooh finds Eeyore's tail while talking to Owl to try and finally get some honey. Just like Cars 2 that I watched after, this film really went fast. And it was shorter than Cars 2! It really sped through the story. I admit, it's small stories they begin with, but punch it up a bit! Pip pip, as they say in Nessie. Keep your head high and give it your all. Put some imagination in it.

It was a fantastic film, others will more than likely see it. Maybe it was such a small crowd as I went it at 11. The 1:35 crowd for Cars 2 was larger. (Not by much I'm afraid.) I recommend it, it's one I'll keep and maybe rewatch once in a while for nostalgia. Thought, to tell you, it's not one I'll pay $10.75 for a matinee to see. I went in with $25 and came out with nothing. No drink, no popcorn. I got a small bag of candies during Cars 2. I'd rather have waited for home release.


P.S.: Anyone else who saw it, was it in cinema aspect ration for you? My theater somehow didn't get the idea and left the black curtains closed on the edges and I could only see the film in 5:4 aspect ratio. Maybe it was much more fun to actually see the film. Somehow the guy managed to figure it out, when in Cars 2 it was full cinemascope.

[monkey4057]

Just saw it again (may have actually liked it a little better this time). Thoughts: 1) Rabbit sounded less like SpongeBob and more like Rabbit this time; 2) Backson=awesome...his voice=not so much; 3) Is Robert Lopez Pooh's tummy?