Pooh's Heffalump Movie
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Movie Reviews of Pooh's Heffalump Movie
Movie Review: A classic worthy of the Disney name - enjoy it with your kids
Summary: 5 Stars
After having suffered through most of the mass-marketed dreck that Disney has been pumping out in the last 10 years, I can't say enough nice things about the Heffalump movie - the animation is fantastic and beautiful, the characters are spot-on, and Lumpy is just irresistable. Like they say in the movie, you don't catch a Heffalump, he catches you.
Roo wakes up one morning, hearing a strange noise, as Pooh, Rabbit and Tigger discover strange tracks in their portion of the Hundred Acre Wood. When Rabbit convinces everyone that they are under seige from a faceless race of Heffalumps who threaten their peace, prosperity, and very way of life (I'm sure this is sounding familiar by now) all the friends of Pooh corner begin training to go and catch the Heffalump. Roo is banned from the search because he's too small - but sets out on his own, armed with only a half-notion of what he's looking for.
What he finds is not what he expects: a heffalump that isn't fierce or ferocious and doesn't have a spiky tail, but a creature just like Roo's young self who gets scared, likes treats and playing games, and has to come when his mother calls. Roo's bravery and tenacity win the day, and everyone makes a new friend.
Apart from the usual cast, including the amazing Jim Cummings as both Pooh and Tigger (which is no easy feat!) Kyle Stanger's vocal characterization of Lumpy is absolutely excellent - both childlike and adorable without becoming saccharine or stagey. The art and animation both rise to the level of Pinnochio and Hayao Miyazaki's excellent "Spirited Away" - a welcome surprise of quality from the company who invented the standard, but who also have produced more formulaic, half-baked and poorly rendered work than anyone else. The amount of craft put into The Heffalump movie really brings you back to the level of quality that Disney is famous for.
And parents - I've watched this movie with my daughter at least 20 times, and I'm still finding things to look at and enjoy every time. It really holds up well. The dvd itself has some nice bonus material - including a delicious cookie recipe - but the real star is a wonderful familiy movie that you and your kids can enjoy again and again and again.
Movie Review: Amazingly Entertaining
Summary: 5 Stars
First off, I absolutely disagree with several of the reviews here stating that this movie is entertaining for children but not so much for the adult. I am a very critical moviegoer, loving the greats such as Se7en, Nemo, Matrix, Last of the Mohicans, etc, and thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience watching this movie with my 3 1/2 yr old daughter. I enjoyed the method of animation to the story line to the amazing vocal qualities & talent brought to the script.
The movie was rendered beautifully on a 52" DLP big screen, much better than many other cartoon based DVD's, very similar to superior HD programming. The animation cast did a very good job making the moving parts of the film not stand out against the static background, very slick.
The voice of Lumpy was simply awesome, a very talented performance by Kyle Stanger. The British accent & his incessant laughing bring a great innocent quality to the film. My daughter can be heard randomly throughout the day exclaiming "Everyone calls me Lum-py!", singing "In the name of the Hundred Acre Woods", or attempting to trumpet like a heffalump as she is doing as I type.
The script I think was very cute. Starts off with everyone all geared up about a heffalump being in the nearby woods. I sat & watched it all with her the first couple go rounds & of course paused & talked to her about the naughty things that Roo & Lumpy were doing (such as Lumpy didn't come when mommy called him, and Lumpy & Roo made a big mess of Rabbit's garden). She remembered these lessons well as the 4th or 5th time seeing it, she told Roo he being bad during the garden destruction scene (throwing vegetables at each other). I definitely think it's very important to discuss movies while watching them to little ones, I find that they seem to remember what we say & learn because their attention is captivated.
I think this is/was an EXCELLENT movie for children 2 - 4 years old, and could easily be enjoyed for children older as well (however 2 - 4 I think is the sweet spot). They speak very slowly & very clearly, which makes it easy for toddlers learning to speak understand better. Two thumbs up.
Movie Review: My daughter says 5 stars
Summary: 5 Stars
The strongest friendships can spring up in unexpected ways and this story of Roo and Lumpy is a lovely one for showing that to young children. The heart of the movie is about their friendship and how each one grows from that experience. My 4 year old daughter has been enjoying this movie for a year. And I enjoyed the chance to share and talk about it with her.
My daughter really relates to it and gets into the story. I'm thankful she has a movie that seems to be aimed at her age group. She especially enjoys singing along during the main song, "Shoulder to Shoulder". And she likes to sing the lullaby "Little Mister Roo" too. I remember Carly Simon's work in the 70's but I am very grateful to her for her work on this and Piglet's BIG Movie.
This film is not perfect though. People who are really into Milne's original work will likely be disappointed. But the adult viewer is not the main targeted audience.
Some reviewers writing about "mixed messages" have very valid points, but some of the points are off target. For example, Lumpy doesn't go to his mom when she first calls, but we do see him pay a severe price for that in the sad emotions he feels while he looks for her. My daughter shed a few tears when Lumpy missed his "mummy". Obviously I talk about these scenes with my daughter. She understands the scenes yet it isn't traumatic for her and this plot device holds her attention.
My daughter knows that these are animated, pretend characters on the screen and while she can relate to the fun the friends have together, this movie does not supply her with an inspiring role model. Perhaps that is just her personality or perhaps some reviewers are a little overboard on that point.
I found the extra features only moderately interesting and my daughter only likes to look occasionally at the game.
The exuberance far outshines the sad parts of the movie. And even with all its Hollywood formulas and imperfections, I look at the delight on my daughter's face and have to give it 5 stars.
Movie Review: Don't analyze--enjoy!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was looking to purchase this movie for a friend of mine bc it is my 3 yr old's favorite movie! (I was trying to do the Oprah's favorite thing only by giving items that my daughter's prefers to my friend and her children.) When I read the negative reviews, I was shocked! My daughter LOVES this movie. When you have children, you quickly get used to seeing/hearing movies over and over and over...this movie I thoroughly enjoy seeing over and over. Honest.
Others on this site who have criticized this movie for the mixed messages are thinking too deeply about movies. I can't think of one movie where the characters don't make poor choices. I usually prefer to stay away from movies where language like "shut up" and "stupid" are used bc that to me is so much more obvious in its negativity.
My daughter loves the music and how Roo and Lumpy become great friends. I think if your child is old enough to notice the complaints the others on this forum share, then it is YOUR job to take the time to share with them how you want your child to behave/act and how you want them to perceive the world. No movie is supposed to replace your parenting.
Carly Simon's songs are wonderful and the lyrics are positive--"When one of us gets a tiny bit tired, the other gives the one a ride..." That is what you can share with your child. Who cares if Roo doesn't listen to his mother? What child doesn't challenge the boundaries set before him/her? How you handle it as the parent, is the important thing. Roo does experience negative consequences for not listening to his mother and for persuading his friend to ignore his mom...THAT in itself is a reason to watch this movie at least once. Too many movies these days don't show the negative consequences, the characters just get away with their behavior or they have "a reason or excuse" to get out of it.
My opinion is to see it once and decide for yourself, but for me, I will purchase this for my dear friend and her children.
Movie Review: A great spirit at the core.
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm very very fond of this film, both on my own and through the eyes of my four year old. It has just the right balance of excitement, scary parts, and sheer unadulterated joy -- and that's what I love so much about it, is the joy. Somehow they've captured, in the songs and the visuals, the exciting glorious feeling of being young and free in the world, of having a friend and an entire day to celebrate it. There's a lot of love in this film, and that far outshines its drawbacks. It's a little bit odd that Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit and Piglet become secondary and not very complimentary characters, and the voice talent doing Tigger is actually a little bit creepy, he sounds like Paul Winchell at 100 (which, alas, he never attained). And my two year old finds the movie a little too scary to watch, though he'll peer at it, intrigued, from behind the couch. But my four year old immediately proclaimed it his favorite movie of all time and said he wanted to watch it every day from now on. And he does watch it frequently, and I continue to enjoy the music emenating from the other room. I don't ever get tired of "We Stand Shoulder to Shoulder" or whatever the official title song is, as Roo and Lumpy celebrate their friendship. Indeed, just hearing it, my heart sort of soars. I remember that feeling, from so long ago -- a good friend and all the world to explore together. And I'm glad to find that in a kids' movie.