Wearisome fantasy

Johnson Thomas

As the credits roll by and chapters run through, we see AA Milne’s imaginative short stories joined together in a rather un-enticing whole. Marc Forster’s thus fruitless attempt to reunite long lost friends Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin -- now an adult, is a little too unyielding to be termed as entertaining.

As a young child, Christopher Robin is forced to leave his 100-acre wood and endearing stuffed animal friends behind – in search of success. But a short romance leading to marriage to Evelyn (Hayley Atwell) and a daughter, Madeline (9-year-old Bronte Carmichael), a commissioned stint in World War II, and a returning employment with Winslow luggage has the adult Christopher (Ewan McGregor) working on autopilot. He is dulled out, straight-laced and evidently boring. It takes a while before he can get inspired again. And that certainly takes a heavy toll on the audience too. 

“Nothing comes from nothing!” Christopher parrots his Boss’ words to justify the lack of eventfulness and proficiency evident in the formulaic telling and it’s not a caution we appreciate either.

The protracted attempt to help the adult and extremely boring Christopher rediscover his childhood roots and friendships so that he learns the importance of relationships doesn’t quite work up as illuminating or evocative. It’s all achieved in obvious and laborious fashion and the enveloping disappointment only adds insult to injury.  

The shoddy mistimed attempt to salvage the experience with a frantic endplay meant to keep the family and its stuffed friends on edge doesn’t drum up any breathless excitement either. The inevitable and predictable ‘Disney Happy ending’ feels as if on auto-pilot – without the uniqueness or imaginativeness of yore. On the positive side though are the voice casting and the beautifully evoked storybook backdrop - through peachy production design, costumes, and cinematography. This is definitely not one among Disney’s wondrous fantasies. It’s too slow, sluggish and unexciting for that!