Winnie The Pooh

Pooh Bear and the Jar of Huny

Director: Stephen J. Anderson, Don Hall
Writers: Stephen J. Anderson, and others
Cast: Jim Cummings, Craig Ferguson, John Cleese, Bud Luckey, Jack Boulter, Travis Oates, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Wyatt Dean Hall, Tom Kenny

SYNOPSIS: Winnie the Pooh sets off to tame his growling tummy with some sweet honey, putting him and his friends in the 100 Acre Woods onto a series of adventures.

REVIEW: Walt Disney Animation Studios returns Pooh Bear to the silver screen for another adventure in the 100 Acre Woods. Based on a collection of stories starting in 1926 by A. A. Milne, illustrated by E. H. Shepard. Licensed to Disney in the 1960s, Winnie the Pooh and his friends made several appearances in film, television and videos.

For his grand return, Pooh Bear (voiced by Jim Cummings) wakes and finds he has a Very Important Thing To Do - at least according to the Narrator (voiced by John Cleese). At first, Pooh thinks that the Important Thing is finding honey, spelled huny, for his grumbling belly. Then the Important Thing is to find a new tail for his melancholy donkey friend Eeyore (Bud Luckey), although the thoughts of tasting some yummy huny for his tummy is never far from his simple mind. Self-proclaimed valuable brainiac Owl (Craig Ferguson) to come up with a contest to find a replacement tail for Eeyore, with a prize of huny for the winner. Kanga (Kristen Anderson-Lopez) and her little Roo (Wyatt Dean Hall), fearful Piglet (Travis Oates), bouncy pouncy Tigger (also voiced by Jim Cummings), and exasperated Rabbit (Tom Kenny) all join in for the contest to help Eeyore which leads to even more unexpected adventures.

For the adults who watched the original films or grew up with Pooh Bear on select Sunday nights and the Wonderful World of Disney, a smile may light up your face at the memory of the opening of Winnie the Pooh as the camera starts with a live-action look at Christopher Robin's bedroom, full of collected knick-knacks, spoils of childhood treasures, and his prized possessions of stuffed animals spotlighting Pooh, Tigger and the rest.

As the Narrator starts the tale... or tael... or is it tail?... he breaks through the animated "fourth wall" to wrestle Winnie the Pooh out of bed, turning the story book insides to slide the bear out of his dreamy slumber. Even Pooh, Eeyore and Piglet sometimes find themselves sitting on the actual sentences and paragraphs of their own story, somewhat unique to the cartoon world, especially Disney.

Winnie the Pooh remains true to its roots. The animation is kept simple to its Disney beginnings, focusing on the characters moving through the scene. The newer voice cast sounds so similar to the earlier cartoons, that it is a pleasure to listen to without being distracting.

Although competing against the giant that is Harry Potter, Winnie the Pooh is light, enjoyable counter programming. For the youngest of kids and adult fans of the stuff bear and his adventures, Winnie the Pooh will be entertaining. For older kids who have grown up with the fast-moving and explosive Pokemon and other anime adventures, this G-rated treasure may remain lost in a sea of huny. Let's hope otherwise.

WORTH: Matinee or Rental