Pooh’s Heffalump Movie
My primary school librarian has always maintained that the best children’s books are not written for children; perhaps the same may be said for movies. The most successful ‘children’s’ films of late have been those adults may also enjoy (Shrek, Finding Nemo, Toy Story, et al), and while Pooh’s latest outing is not quite on a par with these, I nevertheless saw many of the adults smiling almost as much as their children.
And trust me, the kids (mainly pre-school age) were smiling. There were funny little moments throughout (physical humour bringing the most giggles from the young), and at only an hour it didn’t stretch their concentration too far. In fact it was only in a couple of slow, deep-and-meaningful scenes that the wriggles started, abating again once the action was renewed. As closing proof they’d enjoyed and engaged, there was resounding applause when the day was saved; I wish adults would do that more often!
The plot is quite simple (the Hundred Acre Woods gang set out to catch a horrible Heffalump), and it is little Roo who takes the most prominent role as the little boy who wants to prove he’s not a baby. The morals inevitably dealt out with it are, thankfully, not sickeningly preached, but flow quite gently from the story (primarily misunderstanding leading to fear of people different from you and children’s dislike for being treated as useless).
For people with small children/some they can borrow as an excuse, Heffalump is a fun little movie that proves animated films need not have all the speed and whizzbangery of CGI to appeal.
Emily Cock
