Children will get laughs out of 'Pooh' movie

By Eleanor O'Sullivan
Asbury Park, (N.J.) Press

When they see enormous indentations in their fields, Pooh and crew guess the Heffalumps are here: Heffalumps being another word for elephants. Immediately, the group sets out to capture the big animals, but Roo makes friends with a baby Heffalump. Starring the voices of Jim Cummings, Nikita Tompkins, Kath Soucie and Kyle Stanger. Frank Nissen directs. Disney, 69 minutes.

It's very hard to get the hang of it.

Yet, judging from the delightfully exuberant laughs heard rather regularly during a screening of "Pooh's Heffalump Movie," the film has done its job. It appealed to the children watching probably because it's easy to look at — all soft and warm colors and cuddly figures. It also has easy to digest life lessons about trust, loyalty and diversity. And it's whimsical, too.

Kids love whimsy. When they get a little older, they like their whimsy a bit darker, as in the "Gremlins" series of movies.

This "Pooh" movie, derived from the A.A. Milne characters, takes place in the Hundred Acre home of Pooh, Piglet, Roo, Kanga, Rabbit, Eeyore and Tigger. When they see enormous indentations in their fields, they guess the Heffalumps are here — Heffalumps being another word for elephants. Immediately, the group sets out to capture the big animals. And, well, they never get far enough in their adventure to determine what they will do with the beasts once caught.

In the meantime, Roo, the child kangaroo, takes off on his own and actually finds a baby Heffalump, a cutie named Lumpy with an Aussie accent (voice of Kyle Stanger). The two become pals, overcoming the prejudice gleaned from their parents and elders.

The middle of the 68-minute movie is the least engaging — Roo and Lumpy on their idyllic romp before the elders re-enter the picture — but children seem to enjoy the silly moments, and laughter at the characters' miscues was frequent.

Ultimately, the elders learn a lesson from the youngsters — that one shouldn't judge another before actually meeting and knowing the newcomer. As to the real harm Lumpy has done to a garden and watermelon patch, well, this is a kindly cartoon, so no harsh punishment is exacted.

The voice talent is light and bubbly, and isn't it nice that John Fiedler (voice of Piglet), who just turned 80 last week, who starred in the 157 film version of "12 Angry Men," and who has been working since the days of live TV drama, is still in there pitching, in his inimitable beguiling voice?