
On an ordinary day, Pooh sets out to find some honey but gets sidetracked and ends up helping out his friends. Pooh discovers that poor Eeyore has lost his tail and the all the friends -- Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Kanga and Roo -- engage in a contest searching for a replacement. The group suggests all sorts of silly and inadequate replacement tails including a cuckoo clock, accordion, and dart board but nothing suffices. While thinking of a way to win the contest, Pooh discovers a note from Christopher Robin but, unable to read it himself, he takes it to Owl. Owl misinterprets the note, “Gone out. Busy. Back soon.” With great concern, he remarks that Christopher Robin has been captured by a "Backson." The group then switches their focus on a way to capture the Backson, and Eeyore's tail eventually turns up.

In usual Disney fashion, the plot of the movie is inspired by books but altered with a Disney twist. The film retains all the elements of the book chapter "In Which Eeyore Loses a Tail and Pooh Finds One," but also expands on the idea, making the search for the tail into an elaborate contest, with a pot of honey as the prize. The Backson comes from “In Which Rabbit Has a Busy Day”, though Backson is much more of a monster in the movie. Parts of the Backson hunt remind me of Piglet and Pooh's attempts to trap a Heffalump in the book.
There are two unusual song sequences in the movie, "The Backson Song" and "Everything Is Honey" where the animation departs from the traditional. In the Backson sequence, the animation looks like Owl's chalk drawings. And the "Everything is Honey" sequence, done in all honey-hued, golden colors, was interesting but was probably my least favorite part of the film because it just seemed out of place, with a retro synchronized swimming quality. Overall though, musically the movie shines, and I adore Zooey Deschanel's version of the signature "Winnie the Pooh" song and the happy go-lucky end credits song, "So Long."
Share your favorite Winnie the Pooh characters with a child and revisit the world of the One Hundred Acre Woods with this lighthearted family film. And then, once you're done watching, crack open one of Milne's books to compare and contrast the storyline. Whether found in the films or the books, Winnie the Pooh is and will always be the perfect prescription to satisfy your own urge for a smackerel of something sweet.
Blu-ray Bonus Features: Unfortunately, unlike many Disney films, I'm a little sad to report that this film does not seem to include any sort commentary, a behind-the-scenes bonus feature I typically enjoy. However, the backstory behind the film development is briefly discussed in the Blu-ray Bonus feature, "Winnie the Pooh And His Story Too." Directors Stephen Anderson and Don Hall also introduce 5 deleted scenes. In addition there's a Sing-Along as well as two different bonus shorts, "Mini-Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Balloon" and "The Ballad of Nessie."
Related Links:
http://disney.go.com/pooh/home/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WinniethePooh
Twitter: www.twitter.com/disneyanimation
(DVD Source: 2-Disc Combo Pack provided for review purposes by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. All opinions expressed are my own. I am an Amazon affiliate and may receive a very small commission for products purchased through my Amazon links. View my full disclosure statement for more information about my reviews.)
3 comments:
We decided to take my 2 1/2 year old to see this movie in the theater. It was his first movie and we set him up with pooh stuffed animals and a sippy cup to watch Pooh. I thought the short length of the film was a plus, at least for us, because we stayed interested and enjoyed the film thoroughly. I agree especially with 2 of your points: The integration of story book pages was especially nice, and the song sequences were a bit odd, although not unpleasant.
I haven't seen the new Winnie the Pooh movie but who doesn't love that "silly old bear." I'll have to check out that movie. I'm sure my little ones would enjoy it.
I so need to introduce Pooh to JDaniel!
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