The new Winnie-the-Pooh film is just superb! I absolutely love it. When I first heard it was coming out, I was very apprehensive as a Pooh fan. Especially when the title "Christopher Robin" is too similar to the title of the biopic about A.A. Milne that came out last year, "Goodbye Christopher Robin".... I had a feeling that Disney might have just been jumping on the bandwagon, following the success of that film.

But even if they WERE jumping on the bandwagon, I'm pleased to say they have jumped on it beautifully. They have captured the characters exactly how they should be. The film is genuinely hilarious in parts, and certain moments had me laughing to the point where I didn't think I'd stop. They also had little touches of Milne's type of subtle, whimsical humour. There were emotional moments, and beautiful storytelling with deep meaning and messages throughout, just like the books.

It's difficult to predict how much the kids would enjoy it compared to the cartoons we’re so familiar with. I wonder if there were too many scenes of being an adult, and not enough scenes of playing in the forest. But I'm certain that there's a huge audience out there of grown up Winnie-the-Pooh fans, who aren’t really grown up at heart. (I can’t be the only one!) And for us, this film is perfect. I hope the kids enjoy it too.

I would absolutely love it if they do a live action version of the original Winnie-the-Pooh stories. Disney has already covered these books in the original cartoon series of features back in the ‘60s. However, I genuinely believe that if they find the right actor to play Christopher Robin as a young boy, then it would be brilliant. They would have to work really hard on capturing essence of the characters and the stories, and so there would be a lot of pressure. But this film proves that it can be done.

This film’s opening scene is based on the last story from “The House At Pooh Corner”. My only small criticism is that I don’t think they chose the right actor to play Christopher Robin as a boy. He was good, but he looked like he was acting. For me, he just didn’t play it realistic enough. I’m probably being too picky!

The boy who played Christopher Robin in last year’s film, Will Tilston, has set the standard high. But if someone could play him as well as he did, then a live action based on the original books would be perfect. I may well get in touch with Disney myself and suggest it.

***Simple and cute***

Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) is in his 40s, married with a daughter, and working the joyless grind in London when his pal Winnie-the-Pooh unexpectedly shows up. He takes the stuffed animal back to his childhood haunts in Hundred Acre Wood to find Pooh’s other stuffed animal friends. Hayley Atwell and Bronte Carmichael play Christopher’s wife and daughter.

Released in 2018, "Christopher Robin" is a decent live-action rendering of A.A. Milne’s popular characters with the twist that Christopher is an adult rediscovering his childhood friends and the simple joys thereof. The theme of escaping the work grind and getting your inspiration back recalls “Joe Versus the Volcano” (1990), “City Slickers” (1991) and probably a gazillion other flicks. The stuffed animal critters are ultra-cute, the story is simple and the English cinematography is exquisite. I would’ve preferred a more gripping story, but I think the creators kept it simple on purpose.

The film runs 1 hour, 44 minutes and was shot entirely in England (London, Berkshire, Kent & East Sussex).

GRADE: B-/C+

Not only was that **so fuckin' cute**, I also absolutely support its Oscar nomination for visual effects. Owl and Rabbit were less stellar, but all of the stuffed animals, most especially Whinnie the Pooh, looked **incredible**.

_Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go._