Christopher Robin (2018) Review
5:10 PM
Sooner or later, your past catches up to you.
Christopher Robin is delightful. From the film's (literal) opening chapters to the final line ("Silly Old Bear", it is nostalgia-filled and exudes warmth and cosiness. Although the writers missed out on a few tricks, the plot has a positive and veracious message. Christopher Robin reminded me how funny Pooh can be; I haven't laughed this much at a film in a while. Pooh and the gang are as loveable as ever and Ewan McGregor plays a nuanced grown-up Christopher. As far as Disney live-action adaptations go, Christopher Robin is probably one of the less memorable. That's more down to the film's small-scale than anything else. It is a tale about a small bear after all.
Winnie the Pooh was never my favourite growing up. However, the yellow bear is an inescapable staple of pop culture. I did grow up surrounded by Disney though so Pooh and the gang were certainly a part of my childhood (Eeyore was my favourite). This didn't stop me from finding Christopher Robin a trip down memory lane. It's been a while since a film has made me feel nostalgic but I got that cosy feeling watching this one. The film begins with a section detailing Christopher's life since leaving the Hundred Acre Wood. Forster uses the visual of a book (and chapter names) to fly through Christopher's key moments (meeting his future wife, losing his father). Although this did not feel as intricate and creative as the clever story-telling devices in both Paddington films, Forster did make an effort to pay homage to the Pooh stories. Pooh's biggest fans will appreciate them more than everyone else, but Christopher Robin reenacts some of the bears most memorable moments. Tigger sings "The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers" and I loved every second. As Christopher Robin himself relives his childhood, so does the audience.
Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit and Owl are all adorable. The live-action versions of the characters caused a bit of a stir when they were first revealed, but I am a fan of the vintage and tatty realisations. Pooh and the gang would definitely not be in pristine condition after a whole childhood of playtimes. Each character (other than Rabbit and Owl who are actual animals) could be lifted straight off of a toy-shop shelf, they look that real. In fact, The Disney Store has already released a range of Christopher Robin plushes that mirror the film versions. Some may look at the 2018 version of Pooh and think 'scary', but all I saw was 'adorable'. Director Marc Forster and cinematographer Matthias Koenigswieser could have done more with the film's cinematography. There is no shot in this film that matches the beauty of the opening shot in Goodbye Christopher Robin. The camerawork does do a good job of capturing post-war London, but the creative choice to use a rather bland colour-palette may have been the wrong move. It would have been a clever touch if the film got gradually brighter as Christopher rediscovered himself and his happiness. Both Paddington films excelled in world-building, but Christopher Robin lacks this. It would be easy to look at Christopher Robin and call it dull and drab, but thankfully there are a bunch of lovable characters to keep things very enjoyable.
Pooh comes across incredibly well. He is hilarious! Not only is he cute to look at, but he has some one-liners that are hysterical. The film is at its strongest when Pooh is acting like, well, Pooh. The scene at the train station was excellent, Pooh had one funny moment after another. Whether that was pleading Christopher Robin to get him a balloon or reacting to the world ("Why is he in a cage?"), Pooh's merry antics were extremely entertaining. Pooh is more than just a funny, cute bear, he also advocates the film's main message that something can come from nothing. The writers could have easily used a 'be yourself' or 'family is important' (which are both themes) message, but instead they opted for something unique and intellectual. Pooh's message is rather thought-provoking; at first, it seems a little comical but it couldn't be truer. Pooh's motto helps Christopher to solve the problem at work. The message fit perfectly with Pooh and was connected to the film's plot seamlessly. Thanks to Pooh's cuteness, humour and axioms, Christopher Robin's version of the character leaves nothing to be desired. Disney even got Jim Cummings on board which completed the package.
My personal favourite, Eeyore, is also (ironically) lots of fun. Perry, McCarthy and Schroeder clearly understood the Hundred Acre Wood Gang because they all act like audiences will expect. Eeyore is as sarcastic and unhappy as ever. My favourite moment was when he thanks Christopher for kidnapping him. There is just enough of each character, any more and their funny characteristics may turn not-so-funny. Brad Garrett returns to voicing Eeyore after a brief stint in 1995 and his performance manifests the same melancholy and sorrow as Peter Cullen's. Tigger doesn't get the amount of screen time that would be expected from arguably the second most popular character out of the group; it's like the crew knew he would quickly become annoying. Tigger's scenes are delightful and Cummings does a great job voicing the bouncing tiger. Piglet's quirks are cute (nervous, worrying etc) but I wasn't a huge fan of Nick Mohammed's voicework. There's not much to add on Kanga, Roo, Rabbit and Owl as their presence is minimal, but they were all cute and sweet.
My personal favourite, Eeyore, is also (ironically) lots of fun. Perry, McCarthy and Schroeder clearly understood the Hundred Acre Wood Gang because they all act like audiences will expect. Eeyore is as sarcastic and unhappy as ever. My favourite moment was when he thanks Christopher for kidnapping him. There is just enough of each character, any more and their funny characteristics may turn not-so-funny. Brad Garrett returns to voicing Eeyore after a brief stint in 1995 and his performance manifests the same melancholy and sorrow as Peter Cullen's. Tigger doesn't get the amount of screen time that would be expected from arguably the second most popular character out of the group; it's like the crew knew he would quickly become annoying. Tigger's scenes are delightful and Cummings does a great job voicing the bouncing tiger. Piglet's quirks are cute (nervous, worrying etc) but I wasn't a huge fan of Nick Mohammed's voicework. There's not much to add on Kanga, Roo, Rabbit and Owl as their presence is minimal, but they were all cute and sweet.
Ewan McGregor is this film's anchor. He delivers a devoted and nuanced performance. McGregor's Christopher Robin is a workaholic who prioritises his career over his family (unintentionally). McGregor has to illustrate the characters transition from somebody rather serious and pessimistic into someone who rediscovers their playful side and imagination. This does lead to McGregor having to have an imaginary fight with a Heffalump which is quite humourous but could have come off as cringe-worthy if performed by somebody else. McGregor has good chemistry with his human counterparts but there is a genuine spark between him and his furry friends. The final scene with Christopher and Pooh, both wearing matching red jumpers, is very touching and sweet. Christopher begins to realise that he has lost himself when the Hundred Acre Wood gang fail to recognise him and when Pooh asks him if he let him go. This moment was heart-breaking. McGregor's relationship with his on-screen daughter is troubled but becomes loving; it was lovely to see Madeline Robin (Bronte Carmichael) get to experience Christopher's childhood. Hayley Atwell and McGregor have good chemistry and Atwell has some impressive scenes in the first act (her role becomes much smaller from that point). It's hard for any actor to perform alongside CGI creatures so Carmichael, Atwell and particularly McGregor deserve praise for their convincing performances.
Finally, the film's plot could have easily gone down the 'cartoon characters experience the real world' route a la The Smurfs. Disney, Forster and the film's writers do incorporate this into the story but it is not the main hook and it actually adds character development: Pooh visiting Christopher reminds him of what it feels like to be happy and carefree. Pooh also demonstrates that it can be simple things, like a balloon, that lead to the most happiness. Christopher Robin doesn't quite reach the same heights as the Paddington films though. It feels less thoughtful. Perry, McCarthy and Schroeder get credit for telling a business-centric story but keeping it family-friendly. Scenes during business meetings are accompanied by comedic moments to lighten the tone. I did question whether the Winnie the Pooh property transferred well into live-action; due to the real and mature setting, the fantasy of Pooh and friends did not match at times.
Christopher Robin is arguably Disney's smallest live-action adaptation to date and by default, may be the least memorable. It will definitely be a hit with fans of Pooh-bear. Ewan McGregor leads a mostly animated cast with spirit and enthusiasm. The nuances of his performance show his character's arc well. Jim Cummings' voicework ties the bow on this perfect nostalgia-package. From the subtle soundtrack to the reenactments of famous scenes, Christopher Robin will send older audience members back in time, just like the title character. The story has a nice message but isn't too adventurous. Christopher Robin is funny, charming and sweet, just like honey.
Finally, the film's plot could have easily gone down the 'cartoon characters experience the real world' route a la The Smurfs. Disney, Forster and the film's writers do incorporate this into the story but it is not the main hook and it actually adds character development: Pooh visiting Christopher reminds him of what it feels like to be happy and carefree. Pooh also demonstrates that it can be simple things, like a balloon, that lead to the most happiness. Christopher Robin doesn't quite reach the same heights as the Paddington films though. It feels less thoughtful. Perry, McCarthy and Schroeder get credit for telling a business-centric story but keeping it family-friendly. Scenes during business meetings are accompanied by comedic moments to lighten the tone. I did question whether the Winnie the Pooh property transferred well into live-action; due to the real and mature setting, the fantasy of Pooh and friends did not match at times.
Christopher Robin is arguably Disney's smallest live-action adaptation to date and by default, may be the least memorable. It will definitely be a hit with fans of Pooh-bear. Ewan McGregor leads a mostly animated cast with spirit and enthusiasm. The nuances of his performance show his character's arc well. Jim Cummings' voicework ties the bow on this perfect nostalgia-package. From the subtle soundtrack to the reenactments of famous scenes, Christopher Robin will send older audience members back in time, just like the title character. The story has a nice message but isn't too adventurous. Christopher Robin is funny, charming and sweet, just like honey.
72
/100
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1 comments
My son like this movie so much :*
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