Christopher Robin (2018)
Directed by Marc Forster
Christopher Robin, the boy who had countless adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood, has grown up and lost his way. Now it’s up to his spirited and loveable stuffed animals, Winnie The Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and the rest of the gang, to rekindle their friendship and remind him of endless days of childlike wonder and make-believe, when doing nothing was the very best something.
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7 films that influenced Christopher Robin
What critics say influenced Christopher Robin
Directed by Marc Forster, Christopher Robin feels like a thematic cousin to Forster’s acclaimed Finding Neverland (2004), a film about Peter Pan creator J. M. Barrie that explored similar emotional terrain.
Filmmaker Marc Forster spends much of “Christopher Robin” trying to find that “Finding Neverland” sweet spot he worked so successfully in the 2004 Johnny Depp movie about James M. Barrie, the author of “Peter Pan.”
What probably got him this job, however, is Finding Neverland, his 2004 Oscar-nominated take on the story of J.M Barrie and the real-life inspirations for Peter Pan — its mix of whimsy, teeth-gnashing, fantasy, melodrama, name-brand actors and period-piece production design feels like a dry run for what he’s doing here.
Yes, “Christopher Robin” borrows a boatload of tropes from the “Peter Pan” of J.M. Barrie, the subject of Forster’s 2004 semi-biographical (very semi) film.
Whereas last year's Goodbye Christopher Robin assumed a biographical position, the prologue channels Toy Story 3 as young Christopher leaves his toys to embrace adulthood.
Steven Spielberg's Hook, Toy Story 3 and even Despicable Me have all mined similar territory, but those films also worked at a level the nippers enjoyed.
Think of it as an overlong take on the little tragedies of Andy growing up in Toy Story 3 .
This is darker than the Toy Story 3 storyline where the unwanted toys all meet their own mortality.
(It’s the end of Toy Story 3 , but not nearly as moving.)
Moments like that point to the potential for a much darker, weirder movie, like something directed by Terry Gilliam, or maybe the Winnie the Pooh version of Return to Oz .
A movie about him absolutely should be pleasant, mild and sugary...it's not that he should be re-imagined as Seth MacFarlane's "Ted."
Perhaps it’s that the magical realism of the man/bear dichotomy feels like a weird mash-up of A.I.andTed, while the father/daughter story feels seriously underdeveloped.
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Marc Forster isn’t necessarily the guy you’d peg to direct this movie; his filmography includes such varied fare as “Monster’s Ball,” “Quantum of Solace” and “World War Z.” Doesn’t exactly scream “Disney,” does it?
A sweet, surprisingly charming continuation of the stories featuring the classic characters created by A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard once upon a time, director Marc Forster’s (Finding Neverland, World War Z ) delightful little fairy tale is a glorious surprise.
Director Marc Forster ( Finding Neverland , World War Z ) brings back the endearing and lovable characters from the 100 acre wood with deft aplomb.
Leading the charge is director Marc Forster, who’s shown impressive range from indie dramas (“Monster’s Ball”) to zombie flicks (“World War Z”).
Directed by Marc Foster ( World War Z ), Christopher Robin is a curious tale that follows the life of its title character, who is now a family man facing the pressures of work-life balance.
Even with a story and script credited to five different writers, a list which includes the likes of Alex Ross Perry ( Queen of Earth ), Allison Schroeder ( Hidden Figures ) and Tom McCarthy ( Spotlight ), there is an ebulliently innocent joy to this film that’s difficult to describe.
Meanwhile, voice cast additions such as Brad Garrett and a group of five writers (“Spotlight” filmmaker Tom McCarthy among them) lend the toy menagerie a contemporary flair that’s funny without being obtrusive.
Christopher Robin is written by Allison Schroeder ( Hidden Figures ), Tom McCarthy ( Spotlight ), and Alex Ross Perry ( Listen Up Philip ), directed by Marc Forster ( Finding Neverland ), and of course, inspired by the characters of A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard .
Hats off to screenwriters Alex Ross Perry (“The Color Wheel”), Tom McCarthy (“Spotlight”) and Allison Schroeder (“Hidden Figures”) for delivering dialogue that is consistently chuckle-worthy, not to mention a particular waterfall sequence that makes laugh-out-loud use of slow disclosure.
And yes, thanks to a screenplay from unusual suspects like Allison Schroeder (Hidden Figures), Tom McCarthy (Spotlight) and Alex Ross Perry (the guy behind Listen Up, Philip?!?), things do get dark.
Even with a story and script credited to five different writers, a list which includes the likes of Alex Ross Perry ( Queen of Earth ), Allison Schroeder ( Hidden Figures ) and Tom McCarthy ( Spotlight ), there is an ebulliently innocent joy to this film that’s difficult to describe.
Christopher Robin is written by Allison Schroeder ( Hidden Figures ), Tom McCarthy ( Spotlight ), and Alex Ross Perry ( Listen Up Philip ), directed by Marc Forster ( Finding Neverland ), and of course, inspired by the characters of A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard .
And yes, thanks to a screenplay from unusual suspects like Allison Schroeder (Hidden Figures), Tom McCarthy (Spotlight) and Alex Ross Perry (the guy behind Listen Up, Philip?!?), things do get dark.
While the script — a disjointed tag-team effort credited to Alex Ross Perry (who made the Sundance entries “Listen Up Philip” and “Golden Exits”), Tom McCarthy (“Spotlight”) and Allison Schroeder (“Hidden Figures”) — swerves from midlife crisis to bouncy adventure, Forster keeps many of the old Disney hallmarks alive.