Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo (2004)

To start off with, I have made no secret of loving Winnie the Pooh. It just seems so innocent and pure. Given that Pooh already has Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Valentine's Day, so an Easter special is a logical next step. In fact, I wanted to post this review on Easter but didn't have enough time. My one criticism is that the story feels a little rushed. It starts off very nicely with Roo excited about Easter and very nicely depicts his disappointment (and that of the others) when Rabbit declares it to be Spring Cleaning Day instead. Determined to get Rabbit to repent, the gang decides to clean up and decorate his house and we later see a flashback of how Rabbit acquired his dislike of Easter, which came from his experience of the previous Easter. My one criticism is that the story, which starts out very sweet, seems mostly to jump between the "Rabbit plot" (Rabbit's views on Easter and his redemption) and the "Roo plot" (Roo's excitement for the holiday), especially considering that I was expecting the plot to be focused around Roo given how he's featured so prominently on the box art and is named in the title. But that's a minor criticism. All in all, this is a sweet Easter story worthy of the Winnie the Pooh name.

It is definitely not the best of anything to do with the immortal Winnie the Pooh, but it is a sweet and enjoyable movie regardless. The film is perhaps too short, and perhaps too quick in pace, but it is still very enjoyable and charming. The animation isn't too bad, the backgrounds especially are lovely, and the music isn't completely redundant either. It isn't phenomenal, but it is simple and memorable, which is good enough for me. I liked the story, it was a nice moral story with a sweet message, and the script was both touching and funny. The characters are still likable, Roo is very endearing here especially and the voice work is faultless. Overall, nice and charming without being the best movie ever, it is perfectly ideal for kids and if they like it at least Disney are doing something right. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Quality of this movie may not be at the same level as the Pooh movies of the sixties and seventies, but it's still worth watching, little children will enjoy it, parents and grand-parents that take an interest in there children will take the time to explain the many lessons that this movie has to offer, including how friendship and love can bring people with different goals together, and yes the story is familiar and yes the true meaning of Easter is ignored, but that can give the parent the opportunity to tell their children, or grand-children the real reason to celebrate the holiday. Bottom line this is just a good funny movie, no nudity, foul language, or anything else that makes for a typical "family" Hollywood movie.

For the first time in too long a time Disney has delivered a true family movie that all can enjoy. The movie brings back a technique formerly used with great success by Disney that brings the characters to life. They actually jump in and out of the book itself and from chapter to chapter. The moral of the story is shared through the eyes of Roo who, for the first time gets to stretch his range of emotions. We see how the tale unfolds through the tender, loving and unspoiled eyes of this "child" and immediately realize our own vulnerabilities with our real life relationships. The directors, writers, and producers really tug at the heart strings with this one. It's a keeper!