Winnie The Pooh's Most Grand Adventure - Search For Christopher Robin (Animated) (DVD)

...film for young fans of Winnie the Pooh, and it's one of the better ones though by no means the best. The animation doesn't have the look of the original 1960's film that charmed generations, nor does it quite have the final updated look we are acostomed to from the Tigger Movie and the TVseries. It's a transitional piece, where the new drawing style and palette of colours was still being developed from the 1960's offering The Many Adventure of Winnie ...
...to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh or The Tigger Movie, I suggest either renting it, or buying a cheaper copy for £5.99 from the Amazon marketplace (they are the same, just with the old style cover art that was the same as on the old VHS offering) instead of plonking out just under £20 for this.  ... more

Poor Pooh! It's the last day of summer, and wanting to have a another grand day of summer playtime with all his friends, he discovers that Christopher Robin cannot come to play. Christopher Robin has left him a note instead, which Pooh and his friends read with great alarm. he has gone to Skull! Oh no! They must save him from the dangers of Skull before something dreadful happens! What follows is a story of friendship and bravery as Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and the gang set out to save their best friend, Christopher Robin. But just where is Skull, and what dangers might this scary sounding place have? They don't know, but they decide to face it all anyway, out of love.

This is a feature length film for young fans of Winnie the Pooh, and it's one of the better ones though by no means the best. The animation doesn't have the look of the original 1960's film that charmed generations, nor does it quite have the final updated look we are acostomed to from the Tigger Movie and the TVseries. It's a transitional piece, where the new drawing style and palette of colours was still being developed from the 1960's offering The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh. No matter, it's easy to look at, and the songs are the usual bouncy bits of not quite nonsensical fun. As always, the message within the film is all about friendship, loyalty, and this time courage, with an ending subtext about how school is a nice place to go. Yes, school. Silly old bear! He has misunderstood, and that is the crux of the whole thing. Sadly, the script could have been beter developed, as similar misunderstandings in the past have revealed the mistake to the viewer earlier on. Surely if this film was meant to also reassure its young target audience of 3-6 that school is not a frieghtening place like Skull Mountain, we could have been treated to glimpses of what Christopher Robin was REALLY doing while his friends braved perils? As it is, it's enjoyable, but misses its intended mark by mere inches.

The DVD release is nothing to really shout about either. It's full screen so has been converted to a square TV aspect ratio and has absolutely no extras beyond a few previews for upcoming releases (if you call those an extra!). The sound is Dolby digital, but there are no real sound effects that really need to make use of it. It's 73 minutes of decent entertainment, but for what you get content wise compared to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh or The Tigger Movie, I suggest either renting it, or buying a cheaper copy for £5.99 from the Amazon marketplace (they are the same, just with the old style cover art that was the same as on the old VHS offering) instead of plonking out just under £20 for this. 

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