Wait, what? There's a new Winnie the Pooh movie from 2011? How did I never know about this? That's because it opened in July against the last Harry Potter movie, and it was barely advertised. It's a shame Disney didn't push for this movie more, because it is a quality film worthy of A.A. Milne.
I grew up playing Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin on VHS, and watching episodes of "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" on Saturdays. Yet Winnie the Pooh of 2011 is the first time a movie that has largely mirrored the style of the 1977 version.
It does this from the very beginning with the opening of a '20s style childhood bedroom, and the “tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff" lyrics to the characters bouncing on the map of the Hundred Acre Wood. Throughout the movie the viewer is reminded of the clever use of a book format through turning pages, Pooh jumping from book illustration across the fold, words being used as ledges, and the occasional fall into the scene as part of the story.
A large part of how I'm judging the legitimacy of the Pooh Bear universe —
or the Poohverse, if you will
— is how close the voice sound to the '70s movie, and the majority of other Pooh character appearances. Jim Cummings as Pooh, totally passes for Sterling Holloway, and that comes from someone who is such a snob for voice actors, she didn't even need to look up Sterling Holloway. Mr. Cummings was also a fantastic Tiger. It was probably the best, and most accurate voice in the entire movie. The Narrator as John Cleese was spot on, as well.
Owl (Craig Ferguson), Kanga (Kristen Anderson-Lopez), and Roo (Wyatt Dean Hall), didn't have characters with the most distinct voices to begin with, but definitely didn't distract in anyway, and weren't far from usual voices on the VHS tapes we've all grown up with.
Eeyore, possibly the best character ever created in any franchise, was voiced by Bud Lucky. It was alright, but just a little too low and gruff. You need a balance. Eeyore should sound completely melancholy, but not like a chain smoker.
Travis Oates as Piglet? Well Piglet was...too much of Piglet. Like it was definitely him, but it almost sounded like an exaggerated Piglet impression. Still, this voice said a lot of adorable things, and you'll fall in love a little bit.
Christopher Robin was voiced by Jack Boulter, and what? Why is he the only British one? He's super British. Has Christopher Robin ever been more than only slightly British? Like do British people ever sound that British? It was a bit distracting.
Now, that leaves Rabbit. Tom Kenny, I love you. I really do. You gave an entire generation the gift of SpongeBob, and you made "Adventure Time" iconic as Ice King. But that being said, you really should not have voiced Rabbit. Whenever Rabbit said anything it was like he was mouthing words as Simon or Dr. Two Brains talked behind a curtain. Thankfully an un-Rabbit-like Rabbit was just about the only completely out of place voice.
A staple in the Winnie of Pooh, economy from the jokes in movies, to the concepts of picture books is unpredictable wit. Humorous twists of concepts or word play is not something this movie falls short of.
The books of A.A. Milne has created a tangible world. The Sander's above Pooh's front door, the tree trunk walls in houses, the little bridge across a river, and colorful “HUNNY" pots have all added to a world that we each can metaphorically and emotionally visit. I've ever been there in a few dreams.
The artwork of this movie completely adds to this world in the style of the 1920s book illustrations, and the 1977 film that started it all for Disney.
