The movie opens with young Christopher Robin’s (Orton O’Brien) adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood which are about to come to an end. He’ll soon leave for boarding school, and move on to being an adult in an adult world with all its adult problems. He leaves behind his favorite toys, his childhood friends, his childhood memories, his best friend Winnie The Pooh(voiced by Jim Cummings) and most importantly his childhood behind.
A grown-up Christopher soon gets busy with the ways of the world; he gets busy with being a husband to Evelyn (Hayley Atwell), a father to Madeline and an employee. His relationship with his wife and daughter are strained because he is busy with work and has no time for them until he reunites with his past; his friend from childhood Pooh!
While Christopher is very happy to meet Pooh again and takes him home, Christopher who is now older, weary, pressured with work and life is less patient with Pooh’s way. He then decides to drop back Pooh to where he belongs; the Hundred Acre Wood and that’s where Christopher rediscovers his old self again while trying to help Pooh search for their lost friends; Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Owl, and Rabbit. In the process, he also realises that the animals in the forest are being threatened by monsters like the Woozles and Heffalumps, much like the Woozles and Heffalumps we meet in the real world! The story is basically a recovery of sorts, of Christopher’s freedom and the little joys of his childhood and also the little joys of life.
Image Credit: Movie – Christopher Robin
Graphics and live action have been interestingly and beautifully blended in the film. What caught my attention was the thought that went behind making the stuffed animals look worn out, faded and scruffy, in a clever yet not very obvious way to show the years that have passed.
My favorite scene was the train journey that Christopher and Pooh take. Where Pooh in a subtle and innocent way asks Christopher if his briefcase is the most important thing in his life, a simple question which actually makes the audience sit up and think about the priorities in life. The scene is funny yet poignant, Pooh looks out the window and calls out the names of the things he sees through the train window. There’s a subtle yet strong message for all of us who lead busy lives; that there are so many wonderful things to see and enjoy in life if we just stop for a while and look around. Pooh believes “Doing nothing often leads to the very best something!”
Image Credit: Movie – Christopher Robin
There is a lot we can learn from this bear who calls himself silly! Christopher Robin is as much a film for adults as it is for kids, go catch the film this weekend.
