Voices of Jim Cummings, Nikita Hopkins, Kyle Stanger, and Kath Soucie
Directed by Frank Nissen
Music and Lyrics by Carly Simon
Since I did the Halloween direct-to-video sequel last week, I figured I might as well do the original as well. Like The Tigger Movie, Disney originally made this for home video, then released it theatrically when they saw the results. Was this worthy of being show in a theater, or should it have been caught in a heffalump trap? Let's begin in the Hundred Acre Woods as everyone's sleep is noisily disrupted and find out...
The Story: The sound of a trumpet awakens everyone in the Hundred Acre Woods. All of the residents are terrified, except little Roo (Hopkins), who thinks it's cool. Everyone is terrified, especially after Roo finds a set of giant footprints. They're all determined to catch and trap the terrible Heffalumps, but Rabbit says Roo is too young and insists he stays home. Roo goes out on his own to find himself a Heffalump the next day.
He does find a Heffalump, but not only is it a baby, he's not terrifying at all. Actually, little Lumpy thinks the citizens of the Hundred Acre Woods are the scary ones. He and Roo run around and become fast friends, but they make a mess of Pooh's house and Rabbit's garden in the process. The others are more convinced than ever that there's a horrible Heffalump loose among them. It takes a rescue from a cliff with help from Lumpy's mother to convince them that Heffalumps are just like them. Only bigger.
The Animation: Once again, it's nothing flashy. It gets the job done, and that's really all that's needed with the Pooh films. There are some nice backgrounds, especially when Pooh and the others discover the havoc Roo and Lumpy accidentally wrecked on Pooh's home and Rabbit's garden.
The Song and Dance: Awww. Roo and Lumpy's friendship is even more adorable here. Stanger and Hopkins are too funny for words, especially when Roo "captures" Lumpy and he's thrilled about it. This is a full, original movie, so there's no random special turning up mid-way through that takes the focus off their charming and growing relationship. The others get some funny bits early-on when they're freaking out over the idea of Heffalumps in the woods, too.
(And don't leave before the end credits! We get some more hilarious bits, including Rabbit teaching heffalumps to fix his garden and Christopher Robin meeting Lumpy.)
Favorite Number: We open with Simon's rendition of the original theme from "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" as she introduces each character. "The Horribly Hazardous Heffalumps" shows how the citizens of the Hundred Acres Woods badly fear these creatures...except Roo, who just wants to catch one. Kanga sings the sweet lullaby "Little Mr. Roo" to soothe her son to sleep. Lumpy and Roo play "The Name Game" as they try to figure out each other's names when they meet. "Shoulder to Shoulder" is the song for Lumpy and Roo's friendship, and it's heard twice, in a montage when they're playing together, and again in the end after the big rescue.
What I Don't Like: Once again, this is played strictly as children's fare. It lacks the rougher edges in earlier Pooh films like The Tigger Movie and Pooh's Grand Adventure. Christopher Robin is seen in the end credits, but Eeyore's missing through much of the film, and Owl isn't even mentioned.
The Big Finale: It's too bad Lumpy and his mother haven't been seen since the end of the toddler TV show My Friends Tigger and Pooh in 2010. I would like to have seen where else Disney took their darling friendship. Highly recommended for fans of Pooh or Roo, or of the later films.
Home Media: Unlike the Halloween sequel, this one is easily found on disc and Disney Plus.
No comments:
Post a Comment