Director: Simon Curtis
Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Margot Robbie, Kelly Macdonald. UK. 1h 47m
For years people had been probing for Winnie the Pooh, the character holds a lot of sentimental charm for so many generations, the profitability of this really came to be noticed, not after the museum was set up but when Disney basically bought it. For a long while I just assumed this was going to be a mushy Hollywood rendition of the creation story pasted with a rose tint and lateyed in the good times Disney branded family fun, but it couldn’t be further from what was magically achieved in this heartbreaking, thought provoking biopic.
Christopher Robin is the boy who, we all seem to know and love and yet no one really knows at all, well I’m sure the die hard fans weren’t shocked about any ot the revelations within Curti’s period piece but I did have my eyes opened to a life that seemed so charming, and yet through the creation of a cult classic book, part of what should have been a charmed childhood was ruined and all for the success of a book that reminds us all to care and take our time with life.
Inspired by a true story
Along with days spent playing simple games with his father in the forest, CHristopher does have a couple of women in his life, Olive (Macdonald) is by far his closest ally, and her position as a housekeeper and nanny surprisingly gives her more time and access to the boy than his flamboyant and lime lime craving mother Daphne (Robbie), She seems mostly to be responsible for swanning off and bringing him back the toys that made up his characters but it’s through the wonderful moments with his father that he really found happiness.
Excuse me but even a cow can give birth..
-Olive
.One of the most interesting aspects of Goodbye Christopher Robin is how war affects the men throughout the movie, Initially Alan is dealing with his war ghosts, and some sort of PTSD, there’s a tearful moment when he’s looking out onto England’s green and pleasant pastures thinking back to the continent and how the muddy war torn fields must look similarly calm and peaceful. Later on when Christopher has had enough of his life being the boy from the books, he also skips off to war and is presumed dead, proving that life is indeed quite fragile.
We’re writing a book and we’re having fun.
-Alan
Curtis is determined to cast his audience back to a world where a man was able to give life to a series of books and characters that warmed many hearts, but this isn’t sentimental stroll through the history books, Curtis is determined to make us feel and realise what had to happen to make this iconic series a possibility and the harmful effects of its success, not only on little Christopher but it’s a chilling warning for modern parents who force their children into the limelight carelessly. You may want to bring a handkerchief to this chic Pooh film.
Rating: 6/10
Related: Peter Rabbit (2018)
Lists: Writers in Films
Spotlight: Domhnall Gleeson
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