I thought Sterling Holloway, the unmistakable voice of "Winnie the Pooh," was dead. This Disney legend's iconic sound is unforgettable to folks like me who grew up hearing him as the Cheshire Cat in "Alice in Wonderland" and other classic films. How did they find such a perfect match?
Professional voice actor Jim Cummings releases his inner Sterling Holloway to voice Pooh, while his interpretation of Tigger is something else entirely. Voice actors are amazing!
Two elements of this film jumped out at me:
The hand-drawn art has the same familiar technique and color as the illustrations in the original A.A. Milne books: line drawings, unsophisticated shading, almost impressionistic trees and tree trunks.
We NEVER forget this story is from a book. We refer back to the pages over and over. At times letters become elements of the story, providing our denizens of Hundred Acre Wood with inter- active tools, e.g., at one time they stack them up to provide a ladder out of a hole in which everyone is trapped.
The humor is strictly geared for children: static electricity from a balloon had the little 'uns in the audience giggling delightedly. I will admit that I giggled too, when I heard the familiar "Oh bother!"
Of course all our old friends are here: Kanga and Roo, Piglet, Owl, Rabbit, Christopher Robin, the irrepressible Tigger and the doleful Eeyore. Pooh's tummy growls most convincingly in his unending search for "Huny."
It might be fun to refresh your child's experience with Pooh and his friends by a quick read before attending the film. There are many Winnie the Pooh books out there and like the 68-minute film, they are all gently entertaining.
At least the ad before this preview is short:
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1431542041/
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Posts
