Film Review: "Christopher Robin"

Photograph by Laurie Sparham /  Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

During Disney's era of reviving classic Disney films and franchises into modern, live-action films, oftentimes offering different takes and perspectives, Marc Forster's Christopher Robin was truly the refreshing - or rather, nostalgic - ride it promised to be.

While the live-action film adaptation didn't reach the potential of A. A. Milne's original writing about Christopher Robin and his furry friends, Walt Disney Studios' 2018 take on the story of Christopher Robin was still soothing, truthful to it's iconic yellow bear and his friends (including in characterization), and delicate in it's treatment of its cinematography and transitions within the film.

Christopher Robin opens up with a young Christopher Robin attending his going away party with Pooh and his friends as Robin is to be sent to a boarding school, during which Robin promised to never forget Pooh and his friends. Then quickly we see the development of Robin's life (and Robin himself) as Robin is forced to attend a strict boarding school in which work over creativity is taught, his father dies, he later has to serve in World War II and afterwards becomes an efficiency expert at the company Winslow Luggages, where an adult Robin (played by Ewan McGregor) feels the necessity to be a hard worker in which he risks pursuing being genuinely happy and spending more time with the people he loves.

The trouble Christopher Robin's development as a frustrated adult presents becomes evident with Robin's inability to spend much time with his wife Evelyn (Hayley Atwell) and daughter Madeline (who he sends away to the same boarding school he was forced to attend in his youth), a work dilemma which puts at stake the job of many of his employees, and his general dissatisfaction with life. Then comes Pooh, who needs Christopher Robin's help as his Hundred Acre Wood friends have disappeared.

Initially reluctant, confused at the fact that Pooh actually is real and speaks, and unenthusiastic to help his yellow childhood friend, out of the sense of responsibility by which he lives as an adult now, Robin eventually decides to help take Pooh (voiced by Jim Cummings) back to Sussex, where Robin's childhood home was and he believes can help return Pooh back to Hundred Acre Wood. But it turns out that it will be Pooh through his innocence, bear curiosity, and honey-driven wisdom that will actually be helping Christopher Robin find himself - in Hundred Acre Wood, the place he was forced to leave as a young boy.

What helps enhance the connection and reminiscence of moviegoers with A. A. Milne's classic Hundred Acre Wood is the delicate and thoughtful cinematography and transitions incorporated throughout the film, particularly in the Hundred Acre Wood scenes. Not only do these slow and soft moments in Hundred Acre Wood offer a stark contrast against the cold, fast-paced adult world of adult Christopher Robin, but its slowness and softness is soothing and makes you stop and appreciate the little, but precious, moments and sights that are recreated in the magical woods of Robin's childhood.

Written with concise dialogue and packed with a fair, balanced amount of action perfectly suited for both younger audiences and adults, Christopher Robin doesn't bore, and can rather be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. Pooh's furry friends, particularly a strong presence by Eeyore (voiced by Brad Garrett) offer the support the film needed to both entertain and make reminisce viewers. While mixed commentary has been raised in terms of the physical characterization of Christopher Robin's stuffed animal friends, I found it to be great in terms of staying true to the time in which the story takes place as well as to how Winnie the Pooh and his friends were originally designed and created, adding another important level of authenticity that helped people who grew up with these A. A. Milne characters connect with this live-action film revival.

While Christopher Robin isn't Ewan McGregor's finest and most memorable performance, the film is beyond being only about adult Christopher Robin in his adult world. A great deal of the film's action, specifically meaningful action in terms of being both sentimentally important and important to the film's plot, take place at Robin's childhood home in Sussex and his magical childhood Hundred Acre Wood - as well as Robin's character change and growth - because there is still plenty for Christopher Robin to learn from his childhood place, friends, and self he was forced to leave because of the harsh realities of life during his youth. McGregor is able to properly portray a frustrated adult Christopher Robin, and connect us well with the childhood world of Hundred Acre Wood and as a character contrasting with the curious, silly, but actually really wise Winnie the Pooh, from whom Robin actually does the most learning from.

Christopher Robin explores the importance of pursuing being who makes you happy, which includes being with the people you're passionate about and rising above the structured societal pressure to needing to always be "doing something." Like Pooh taught Christopher Robin and moviegoers alike, sometimes doing nothing, just living and being in the moment, can be everything you need and can lead to something better...as it did for Robin in his pursuit of resolving his work dilemma - and, in the process, rediscovered himself and his happiness, and just how to make his life much more rich and happy: by being with the people he loves and being the person he loves (not letting go of his childlike wonder). Christopher Robin is a sweet reminiscent piece not only for people who grew up reading and watching the stories of Christopher Robin and his friend Winnie the Pooh, but also for adults in remembering their own childhood and the importance of never letting go of your invaluable childhood nature.

Running on a similar positive and clean note associated with Paddington the bear, but obviously each film franchise and its memorable talking bear different with its own story and message to tell, Christopher Robin will soothe you, make you laugh and can be enjoyed by most audiences, especially during today's socioeconomic climate. Like Pooh, Christopher Robin was a film with an Enormous Heart, and it was truly precious to be back in Hundred Acre Wood after so long.

Everybody needs a Winnie the Pooh in their life, even if it's by watching and learning from through a film screen.

Final word:

With that said, ultimately I rate this film: 8/10, or 4/5 stars.

While not as strong as A. A. Milne's original writing, Christopher Robin still is a soothing, delicately delivered ride that is truthful to the essence of Pooh and his friends, with equally eloquently treated cinematography that can be enjoyed by a variety of audiences.