Christopher Robin is Little on Brains but Big in Heart.

"Pooh, promise you won't forget about me, ever. Not even when I'm a hundred."
Pooh thought for a little. "How old shall I be then?"
"Ninety-nine."
"Pooh nodded. "I promise," he said.

-The House at Pooh Corner

by A.A. Milne 

Still from the ending Pooh's Grand Adventure.
Scene plays almost exactly in the live-action version

Five minutes in, and I'm already shedding tear. That ending has been adapted twice, first in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) and Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin (1997). Now we see it again in Disney's latest live-action retelling, Christopher Robin, as our story starts with the titular character saying good-bye to his childhood companions before leaving for boarding school. Darn it, that gets me every time.

Now grown-up, Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor), works at a crummy job while trying to provide for his wife Evelyn (Hayley Atwell) and daughter Madeline (Bronte Carmichael). Running the risk of unemployment for himself and his fellow co-workers, Robin must work extra hours causing him to miss a holiday trip with his family much the dismay of his daughter. Just when there couldn't be any more surprises, who should re-enter his life but Winnie-the-Pooh (voiced by Jim Cummings). While Pooh is happy with the reunion, Old Robin is taken aback to say the least. From there it's a journey back to the Hundred Acre Wood as Christopher Robin rediscover's his inner child once again.

Right off the bat, this film has been compared Steven Spielberg's Hook of having a well-known child character grow up to be a workaholic parent who has no time to be with his family and unexpectedly return's to a land he thought to be make-believe and remember his childhood. While the similarities didn't bother as much, the story-line of the workaholic parent is the movie's only fatal flaw having been done death in countless stories both better and worse. What saves it are the characters who remain intact as their previous iterations as they make the wonderful transition to live-action. The interactions are equally as appealing especially when Pooh and his friends journey to the real world and seeing everyone's reaction to a talking stuffed animal.

Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, World War Z) does what Spike Jonze did with Where the Wild Things Are on making a mellow and quiet adaptation that adults might enjoy more than kids, at least those who grew up with the source material. It's more cheerful than Jonze's movie but never forgets to address that not all is happy and sunshine. After Peter Rabbit, I feared Pooh would be the next in line of being subjugated to pop culture references and rude humor. Thankfully, Christopher Robin follows the logic of The Peanuts Movie and Paddington of evading these pratfalls. It may not be story-structured as the latter, but Christopher Robin is still sweet, earnest, and witty thanks to its timeless characters.

Piglet (Nick Mohammed), Pooh (Jim Cummings), Rabbit (Peter Capaldi), Roo (Sara Sheen),
 Kanga (Sophie Okonedo) , Tigger (also Jim Cummings), and Eeyore (Brad Garrett).
Owl (Toby Jones) being the only one missing. 

Ewan McGregor is compelling as an adult Christopher Robin along with his delightful family.  Having voiced these characters for more than a decade Jim Cummings continues to be a natural as the Willy nilly silly old bear and the bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy Tigger. Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond) fills in for Peter Cullen as Eeyore (who I guess was too busy voicing Optimus Prime) and steals the show with his ever gloomy charm and Nick Mohammed (The Martian) fits the timid vocals of the timorous Piglet.

Be sure to stay after the movie for a mid-credit scene surprise

Christopher Robin makes for a nice calm break from all the mainstream madness and a definite watch for the whole family.  I'll be surprised if there isn't a child who has never heard of Winnie-the-Pooh with the countless television incarnations and theatrical movies including this one. Shame on that parent if they don't.

Final Verdict: (A-)