Winnie the Pooh

With Wit, Reviewed By Kimmo Mustonenen

Of more than 35 years since his last major movie appearance he is finally back: Winnie the Pooh, the honey-loving, always good-natured bear from the woods (where Pooh the bear goes – well… – The Pope is Catholic, right?).

In many places is the question – where the Heffalump has the Pooh been?

Forgotten, ignored, displaced?

This theatrical release alone is enough to run under the great banner of Walt Disney (and his frozen head – article later).

For this had been entirely based on old traditions and even if the marketing was on the safe side, and a post-modern piece of animation a la “Shrek” purported to end – it was a classical fairy tale and a good one at that.

With Winnie the Pooh, Disney goes a step further (or back, in both space and time), but here is a very old-fashioned, even to two-dimensional cartoon (not 3D, much thanks to God).

Is that nice?

Heffalump yes it is!!!

For content, one has taken three original stories of Winnie the Pooh inventor A.A. Milne.

Everything is as usual, feels familiar and exudes the nostalgic charm of the original and would smell like a cookie.

Childhood memories, surprises remain out completely (and we know that surprised children can be calamitous).  It is just what you expect.

Pooh has in search of fresh honey, Eeyore lost his tail and then disappears (but not like in Hostel – that would freak me out!).

The story is really Heffalumping slow going, but in this case is not a disadvantage, because the film is primarily designed for a very young audience, and for many it will be the first cinema experience (Playskool’s “My First Cinema!”  Send me a check, Playskool).

It will be taken for all time, faster, more exciting passages are interspersed with quiet moments at the pause (I think).  Which is for the drooling old and much for the drooling young.  And both go in their pants.

By a narrator who is voiced by John Cleese, opens up a playful connection between audience and film world.

Among the hand-drawn pictures in watercolor style are also found numerous pages of a book whose words are the story and interact with Pooh as well as with his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood.

Especially at this point it is interesting for older viewers, since in Winnie the Pooh are many word games and gimmicks with the fourth wall (thanks for that one, theater school!).

Also emphasize the positive, was very successful finale, in which provides an involuntary seizing of the characters in a self-dug pit for jokes – like a “Saturday Night Live”.

Winnie the Pooh is no more, no less, no up, no down.  Is a great movie for kids, a nostalgia for the grown and enjoy a short (in the beginning) –  namely “The Ballad of Nessie”.

So, as like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (what a good weekend for movies!) – two more vigorous thumb wavings – old fashioned and refreshing (lemonade!).

If you don’t go, you are Heffalumping crazy!  I stand by this statement.

Kimmo Mustonenen (Kimmo On Kino) – Behind The Proscenium

P.S.  If you have a hatred for my English – go Heffalump yourself!  In the pore!