GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN follows the writings of A.A. Milne from their inception. GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN has a positive worldview, but does have some depressing, caution worthy elements to it.

When A.A. Milne and his wife, Daphne, decide to have a child, their life changed. They decide to name the child Christopher Robin, but he goes by Billy. Billy grows up with a kind nanny named Olive, who loves and cares for him, while his mother Daphne is being a socialite.

Ever since serving in World War I, A.A., who they call Blue, has PTSD and decides to write a book on the evils of war. However, Blue can’t get his thoughts on paper and develops writer’s block. So, he decides to move the family to the countryside, where he can think and write and not be disturbed or triggered by his PTSD.

Not long after they arrive in the countryside, Daphne decides to leave Blue and Billy so she can go into town and attend events and parties. However, she claims that it’s so Blue can focus on his writing. At the same time, Billy’s nanny Olive has to leave as well to go see her sickly mother. Blue and Billy are all by themselves, which leads them to grow in their relationship. The two take hikes and long walks and start to pretend that Billy’s teddy bear is in his own world, with his donkey friend, little pig friend and more creatures.

Billy asks Blue to write a book for him, so he can read it. Blue gets the idea to write the book about Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh and his friends. The two get immersed in the Hundred Acre Woods world and grow into an even deeper bond. Blue decides to invite his friend Ernest, who’s an illustrator, to come up to the countryside and help develop the book with him. Once Daphne has heard that Blue and Earnest are making headway, she decides to return back to the countryside with the family.

After the book is finished, there is an outstanding amount of praise and love for it, so much so that Christopher Robin is overwhelmed by the fans. Will Billy, aka Christopher Robin, be able to get through this much fame?

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN is a well-made movie. Young Will Tilston, who plays Christopher Robin as a boy, does an excellent job. The time period, including the costuming and look, is spot on. Although this is the case, the movie lacks the kind of uplifting sentimentality that is hard to pinpoint, in other similar movies, such as FINDING WONDERLAND or SAVING MR BANKS. Also in this movie, there are multiple plot lines, including one about a bad mother figure, one about the evils of war, one about growing up famous, and a few other minor subplots. These plotlines detract from the basic story.

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN has a mixed worldview. The most positive character in the movie is the nanny, Olive, who’s a devout Christian and serves as a spiritual guide for Christopher Robin. While this is the case, the family is seen as dysfunctional, with a mother who appears as if she would rather be a socialite then a mother. The mother and father leave their son at home for extended time periods except for when Christopher Robin is making them money via a press tour for the book or while his father writes the book. In the end, this is forgiven, but it does show a negative portrayal of motherhood and parenting. There’s also a theme about success ultimately leading to unhappiness. Maybe this is a British theme, but it might strike media-wise viewers, especially Americans, as overdone.