Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Margot Robbie, Kelly Macdonald, Will Tilston

Director: Simon Curtis

Writers: Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Simon Vaughan

Genre: Biographical Drama

Release Dates: October 13, 2017 (Theaters), January 23, 2018 (Home Media)

Running Time: 1 hour, 47 minutes

This movie about the true story behind the creation of Winnie the Pooh and the effect its success had on the creator’s family is a solid watch. Stars Domhnall Gleeson, Margot Robbie, and Will Tilston give great performances as the Milne family. Gleeson is able to give his stern and British proper character heart despite the character’s lack of expressive moments. It’s strengthened by Robbie’s portrayal, whose character is similar but younger and less responsible and, as a result, not as successful in reserving her emotions. Tilston gives the best performance as he is able to fully portray how a child in his unique situation would act, no reservations at all, without seeming naïve.

The movie has many beautiful shots of the London countryside as well as clean and sharp shots of the city. The cinematography is traditional but effective. The story is told at a brisk pace and doesn’t allow any scene or moment to overstay its welcome. However, that comes at an occasional cost. Some parts of the movie feel rushed, such as the opening and sections of the scenes portraying the initial success of the book. As a result, it’s a bit confusing sometimes to see how the movie got to where it is. It sometimes seems that the movie is just randomly jumping quickly to different times and locations without enough information to make the switches seamless.

Conveyance issues aside, this is a solid movie. The drama behind the original intention of the author, the creation of the book we’ve come to know, and the aftermath of its release is a great story. It may not excel in any one aspect but it’s worth your time.

Rating:

7 / 10

Good