CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (2018)

Was it Steven Spielberg’s HOOK/’91 that started the modern cinematic notion of playing catch-up with familiar childhood literary characters old enough to have forgotten their past selves?  There it was Peter Pan, now a troubled dad who needs to remember (and relive) past NeverLand adventures to slough off Mid-Life ennui.  Here, it’s Winnie-the-Pooh pal Christopher Robin (unlike Peter, Robin Milne an actual person, though not at all like the man seen here) who must leave office drudgery behind and revisit the Hundred-Acre woods & various stuffed animals from the past if he’s to rediscover his joie de vivre and bring some welcome anarchy into a too well-ordered life so he can reconnect to his ignored wife & daughter.  Disney double-dipped with MARY POPPINS RETURNS hitting the same story beats & character notes the same year, the original MARY POPPINS mutual template.  And while both improve on HOOK (how could you not?), each a wan reflection of their progenitor.  Five years on can you think of a single tune or performance from POPPINS RETURNS?  Here, they also made a mistake in slavishly copying the old voices (and musical bits) of Disney’s 1960s animated Pooh shorts.  Personalities not so much A.A. Milne as Walt & Co.  With dumb gags to wake up sleepy-heads, technical crudity in the animated puppet animals*, and choppy editing, this is pretty disappointing.

WATCH THIS, NOT THAT/LINK: *The same animation techniques worked wonderfully in the two recent PADDINGTON films (2014;’17).  The second one a particular treat.    https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2015/08/paddington-2014.html    https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2018/06/paddington-2.html

SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: While designed to appeal to 21st century kids, modern attitudes and office diversity hires really stick out.  Like those all-too-obvious Product Placement shots in ‘80s pics.

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID/LINK: The original stuffed animals have been on display at various locations in the New York Public Libraries since 1987.  Here’s a rundown of their travels over the years.  https://www.nypl.org/about/locations/schwarzman/childrens-center-42nd-street/pooh