BEAST (15)
TOWARDS the conclusion of Marc Forster’s fantasy, Winnie-the-Pooh (voiced by Jim Cummings) stares adoringly at a grown-up Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor), who has forgotten the joy of his childhood spent romping around the Hundred Acre Wood.
“It’s always a sunny day when Christopher Robin comes to play,” coos the honey-guzzling bear.
Alas, that sunshine doesn’t always penetrate the rain clouds that linger over this cinematic namesake, which shamelessly milks our affection for beloved characters created by AA Milne and EH Shepard.
Credited to three screenwriters, Christopher Robin relies heavily on the quirks and naive charm of Pooh and his companions, who are convincingly brought to life through digital trickery.
A briskly paced opening section documents Christopher’s formative years by flicking through the pages of a book laden with the bear’s mantras for a contented life.
“Doing nothing often leads to the very best of something,” philosophises Pooh. Forster’s film does very little and this leads to occasional laughs, teary confessions and a central message about cherishing time spent with loved ones.
Last year’s Goodbye Christopher Robin focused on the post-traumatic stress endured by Milne on his return to London from the trenches of the
Great War and a fractious relationship with his son.
Christopher Robin skips forward in time to the late 1940s.
The titular father (McGregor) is a workaholic efficiency manager in the luggage division of Winslow Enterprises run by Old Man Winslow (Oliver Ford Davies) and his slippery son Giles (Mark Gatiss).
Times are tough and Winslow Jr orders Christopher to deliver 20% cuts across his team in time for a board presentation on Monday morning.
Christopher cancels a weekend in the country with his neglected wife Evelyn (Hayley Atwell) and young daughter Madeline (Bronte Carmichael) to concentrate on balance sheets.
Magically, Pooh ★★★★★
BROODING tale of female empowerment and sexual awakening. Shrinking violet Moll (Jessie Buckley) submits to a joyless life under the thumb of her domineering mother (Geraldine James). Moll’s birthday party at the family home gives favoured sister Polly (Shannon Tarbet) the chance to announce she is pregnant, so the birthday girl slips away and relinquishes herself to alcohol-induced oblivion at a local nightclub. The next morning, Moll encounters handyman Pascal (Johnny Flynn)and the misfits fall head over heels in lust. But then Pascal is arrested for the murders of young women on the island.
■ Available to download/stream and on DVD/ Blu-ray from August 20.