Pooh's Heffalump Movie
Year: 2005
Director: Frank Nissen
Starring: Peter Cullen, Jim Cummings, John Fielder, Nikita Hopkins, Ken Sansom & Kyle Stanger
Runtime: 68 mins
BBFC: U
Published: 04/07/22
Director: Frank Nissen
Starring: Peter Cullen, Jim Cummings, John Fielder, Nikita Hopkins, Ken Sansom & Kyle Stanger
Runtime: 68 mins
BBFC: U
Published: 04/07/22
I think I’m a bit Winnie the Poohed out. Whilst I do love spending time in the Hundred Acre Wood as it brings back great childhood memories and a sense of ease that’s quite unparalleled in the rest of Disney’s catalogue, I couldn’t help but struggle to get through Pooh’s Heffalump Movie during my most recent watch of it for the purposes of this review. Thankfully though Pooh’s Heffalump Movie is yet another winner from the Disney Animated Sequels range, and I hope I convey that adequately in this review.
When Piglet (John Fielder), Roo (Nikita Hopkins), Pooh, and Tigger (both Jim Cummings) are awoken by terrifying noises one morning, they go to Rabbit (Ken Sansom) for answers. Rabbit deduces that the noise was made by a Heffalump, a terrifyingly large creature that lives just beyond the area of the wood they call home. Determined to be the first people to capture a Heffalump, the group form an expedition, but insist Roo stays behind for his own safety. Unwilling to let his friends have all the glory, Roo ventures deep into the Hundred Acre Wood and meets Lumpy (Kyle Stanger), a young Heffalump who has become separated from his mother. Seeing that Lumpy is no threat, Roo and Lumpy become friends and begin the search for Lumpy’s mum.
When Piglet (John Fielder), Roo (Nikita Hopkins), Pooh, and Tigger (both Jim Cummings) are awoken by terrifying noises one morning, they go to Rabbit (Ken Sansom) for answers. Rabbit deduces that the noise was made by a Heffalump, a terrifyingly large creature that lives just beyond the area of the wood they call home. Determined to be the first people to capture a Heffalump, the group form an expedition, but insist Roo stays behind for his own safety. Unwilling to let his friends have all the glory, Roo ventures deep into the Hundred Acre Wood and meets Lumpy (Kyle Stanger), a young Heffalump who has become separated from his mother. Seeing that Lumpy is no threat, Roo and Lumpy become friends and begin the search for Lumpy’s mum.
If you’ve ever felt that Winnie the Pooh is missing out on some social commentary about racism and prejudice then Pooh’s Heffalump Movie has you covered. Concerning itself entirely about addressing the prejudice that Roo has over Heffalump’s based on the scaremongering from his friends, Pooh’s Heffalump Movie shows that Heffalump’s are actually no different to the rest of Christopher Robin’s friends. I dislike the title though, Poo’s Heffalump Movie just sounds wrong, especially because Pooh isn’t even the main character of the story, it’s Roo. The film’s original title of The Heffalump Movie is better I feel, but I guess it wasn’t overly explicit about the fact that it was a Winnie the Pooh film that way.
The story is fun and filled with childhood innocence, and in a few ways even reminded me of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Probably completely unintentional, but this kind of forbidden friendship based on prejudice remains extremely endearing even after multiple rewatches.
Pooh’s Heffalump Movie also looks fantastic. One of the few Disney Animated Sequels to receive a theatrical release, the film was given a very generous $20 million budget and you can see that it was put to good use. Gorgeous artwork, smooth animation, great vocal performances, and some fun songs make Pooh’s Heffalump movie one of the most high-quality productions that DisneyToon studios has ever made.
Pooh’s Heffalump Movie marks the end of my run with Winnie the Pooh in the Animated Sequels range. It’s certainly not the best Winnie the Pooh film, I would argue that’s probably The Tigger Movie, but it is another strong outing in the Hundred Acre Wood. Pooh’s Heffalump Movie manages to tackle some sensitive subject matter in a way that kids will enjoy, and parents could probably learn a thing or two from as well.
The story is fun and filled with childhood innocence, and in a few ways even reminded me of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Probably completely unintentional, but this kind of forbidden friendship based on prejudice remains extremely endearing even after multiple rewatches.
Pooh’s Heffalump Movie also looks fantastic. One of the few Disney Animated Sequels to receive a theatrical release, the film was given a very generous $20 million budget and you can see that it was put to good use. Gorgeous artwork, smooth animation, great vocal performances, and some fun songs make Pooh’s Heffalump movie one of the most high-quality productions that DisneyToon studios has ever made.
Pooh’s Heffalump Movie marks the end of my run with Winnie the Pooh in the Animated Sequels range. It’s certainly not the best Winnie the Pooh film, I would argue that’s probably The Tigger Movie, but it is another strong outing in the Hundred Acre Wood. Pooh’s Heffalump Movie manages to tackle some sensitive subject matter in a way that kids will enjoy, and parents could probably learn a thing or two from as well.