Christopher Robin
The following are memorable Pooh quotes.
- “Doing nothing often leads to the very best kind of something.”
- “People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.”
- “I always get to where I’m going by walking away from where I’ve been.”
Christopher Robin is a tiny little film filled with great significance. The talented Ewan McGregor plays Christopher, and he has all but lost the joy in life despite having a loving wife (Hayley Atwell) and daughter (Madeline Bronte Carmichael). Unfortunately, he works for an employer who considers weekends a waste of time if you’re not in the office.
In the process, Christopher’s wife and child leave for a planned trip to the country while he remains assigned to a job to find a way to increase profits by discharging valuable employees and friends. Filled with angst, who should show up at his doorstep other than Winnie the Pooh.
When Christopher is confronted by his old pal, his reflections immediately go back to his experience as a child in the Hundred Acre Wood. In fact, the movie begins with a throwback to that time where you see the interaction between a young boy, Pooh Bear, Eeyore (a very funny Brad Garrett), Piglet, Rabbit and the Owl.
As I watched a very moving party where the animals were saying goodbye to Christopher as he left for school, I couldn’t help but be reminded of those heartbreaking moments when you have to say goodbye to a pet who died. That happened in our house two weeks ago when one of our rescue spuds, Mario Pucci, succumbed to cancer. I still keep his food bowl in his empty cage to remind me of his wonderful contributions to our home.
Quite frankly, nothing happens in this film that wasn’t totally expected and it really doesn’t matter. As noted above, Pooh is filled with many wonderful quotes about finding joy in life from doing simple things and Christopher regains the enthusiasm of his childhood that he had lost along the way.
I saw this movie at a perfect time given that I had just returned from southern Indiana following a long session with a young client and his family. He suffers from Asperger’s and is charged with a serious offense following his construction and discharge of an explosive device in his home. Devastated after breaking up with his girlfriend and no longer being able to see her children that he adored, he is accused of making that explosive to somehow threaten her.
It is a complicated case that carries enormous consequences, and I was trying to convince the family to negotiate a resolution that was in their son’s best interest. Tears flowed right up to the point where I got back in my car to drive to Indianapolis.
Once back in Marion County, I couldn’t bear to remain in my office for over half an hour and as a result took off seeking an escape. And there waiting for me was Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh, and I once again found magic waiting for me in a dark theater.
