Nalle Puh – or Winnie the Pooh, as he is known in English – was never a personal favorite. I considered him somewhat simple, slow-witted, and, frankly, uninteresting. However, the trailer for Christoffer Robin & Nalle Puh (or Christopher Robin, as it’s known internationally) resonated with me deeply. Consequently, I eagerly anticipated the arrival of the Blu-ray disc at our offices.
Christopher Robin (Orton O’Brien) shares a final picnic with his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood, promising Nalle Puh (Jim Cummings) and the others that he will never forget them. He then departs for boarding school, marking the beginning of his transition into adulthood. As an adult, Christoffer Robin (Ewan McGregor) is employed at Winslow’s luggage factory. As the provider for his daughter Madeline (Bronte Carmichael) and wife Evelyn (Hayley Axwell), he has limited time to reminisce about his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. Faced with declining luggage sales, Christopher’s boss, Giles Winslow (Mark Gatiss), tasks him with spending the weekend in London to devise a plan to streamline production by 20 percent. The planned family weekend is canceled, leaving Evelyn and Madeline to travel to the family’s countryside cottage alone. While Christoffer Robin is alone in London, Nalle Puh reappears after 30 years, seeking assistance because his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood have disappeared. A reluctant Christoffer agrees to help his old friend locate them.
Director Marc Forster was an unexpected choice to helm a film that would make me appreciate Nalle Puh and his world. Forster’s portfolio includes intense dramas like Monsters Ball, action films such as World War Z, and the critically panned Bond film Quantum of Solace. However, considering his work on the emotionally resonant Flyga Drake (The Kite Runner) and the thematically similar Finding Neverland, his involvement becomes more understandable.
Christoffer Robin & Nalle Puh maintains a consistent and engaging pace, providing sufficient information without feeling hurried. The prologue effectively condenses 30 years of Christoffer Robin’s life, establishing a clear understanding of his character development. The reunion with Nalle Puh is genuinely touching, largely due to the exceptional special effects that render Nalle Puh as a believable teddy bear, complemented by Jim Cummings’ endearing vocal performance. Ewan McGregor’s portrayal adds the final touch, softening even the most skeptical anti-Pooh sentiments. The film also includes moments of humor, with Ior (Brad Garrett) standing out as a particularly amusing character.
Hayley Atwell delivers a solid performance as Evelyn, but her character is unfortunately underdeveloped and lacks depth. In contrast, Madeline (played by Bronte Charmichael) is a significant character, portrayed with authenticity and sincerity.
Given the involvement of five screenwriters, one might anticipate a flawless script for Christoffer Robin and Nalle Puh. However, the film’s screenplay is its weakest point. It relies on familiar tropes and lacks originality. The narrative shares similarities with Hook, but with Christoffer Robin replacing Peter Pan, or even J.M. Barrie (the author of Peter Pan) grappling with the fear of aging and mortality as seen in Finding Neverland. The film explores the well-worn theme of losing one’s sense of playfulness and neglecting family in the pursuit of adulthood. The conclusion is predictable.
Christoffer Robin & Nalle Puh is also available in a Swedish dub. As much as I dislike dubbed animated films, I find dubbed live-action films even more objectionable. For the purpose of this review, I sampled the Swedish dubbing. While Swedish dubbing is often well-executed (as demonstrated in Coco), the overall effect in Christoffer Robin & Nalle Puh is underwhelming. Knowing Ewan McGregor’s actual voice, Emil Almén’s dubbing lacks the same qualities. Similarly, Jan Jönson’s portrayal of Nalle Puh cannot compete with Jim Cummings’ original performance. Therefore, I advise against the Swedish dubbing and recommend reading the subtitles instead, if watching with children.
The Blu-ray edition is adequate, although darker scenes tend to appear grayish rather than maintaining the deep blacks I expect. While this is not a UHD 4K edition with HDR (as Disney has not yet adopted that format in the Nordic region), other BD films exhibit better visual quality. The audio is clear and satisfactory, but unremarkable. The disc also includes several informative documentaries.
In conclusion: despite a somewhat predictable script and familiar storyline, Christoffer Robin & Nalle Puh is a touching and enjoyable film that I recommend.
