Very few Disney franchises were as odious to me growing up as Winnie the Pooh. The first offense I took was the name. Even as a child, I couldn't understand how this got past the censors, not to mention my own mother. A bear made of waste? Was this possible? If anything, it seemed his cranial cavity was packed with it. I would have preferred something more chivalric, like the Sword and the Stone. Alas.
Consequently, to help pass the time I had agreed to spend it with my nephew, I decided to humor him by watching his number one Pooh film, The Tigger Movie. Now, to be clear, I am an across-the-table Pooh hater. There's not one character that makes me smile or chuckle. Yes, I know I'm meant to think Tigger is a handful and Piglet is cuddly and Rabbit is demanding, but they all just fill me with nausea.
The only person who has any awareness is Roo, the child kangaroo, and Christopher Robin. But, adding insult to injury is that this entire narrative is supposedly taking place in Christopher's imagination. Dear God! Schizophrenia as well? It's all too much. But, instead of decrying this world of psychotic delusion, I found myself beaming along with my nephew.
Regardless of whether or not I liked The Tigger Movie -- or found it possible -- is beside the point. If your child or nephew or niece has fallen for the residents of the Hundred Acre Wood, there's nothing you can do but smile and not muck up the works. I understand I'm not the target demographic for Disney films, much less the Pooh franchise. So, in a great act of control, I laughed along and enjoyed his enthusiasm.
The thing that was surprising, though, is how much I had softened to the franchise by the end. I was expecting to shut off the DVD player and get on with our day, but my nephew asked me to screen the film again! Well, wanting to be the favorite aunt, I obliged him. And towards the end of the second screening, I think I was kind of hooked. Disney, you make an impressive?
Consequently, to help pass the time I had agreed to spend it with my nephew, I decided to humor him by watching his number one Pooh film, The Tigger Movie. Now, to be clear, I am an across-the-table Pooh hater. There's not one character that makes me smile or chuckle. Yes, I know I'm meant to think Tigger is a handful and Piglet is cuddly and Rabbit is demanding, but they all just fill me with nausea.
The only person who has any awareness is Roo, the child kangaroo, and Christopher Robin. But, adding insult to injury is that this entire narrative is supposedly taking place in Christopher's imagination. Dear God! Schizophrenia as well? It's all too much. But, instead of decrying this world of psychotic delusion, I found myself beaming along with my nephew.
Regardless of whether or not I liked The Tigger Movie -- or found it possible -- is beside the point. If your child or nephew or niece has fallen for the residents of the Hundred Acre Wood, there's nothing you can do but smile and not muck up the works. I understand I'm not the target demographic for Disney films, much less the Pooh franchise. So, in a great act of control, I laughed along and enjoyed his enthusiasm.
The thing that was surprising, though, is how much I had softened to the franchise by the end. I was expecting to shut off the DVD player and get on with our day, but my nephew asked me to screen the film again! Well, wanting to be the favorite aunt, I obliged him. And towards the end of the second screening, I think I was kind of hooked. Disney, you make an impressive?
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Yes, it's been ten years since The Tigger Movie made its debut. See what the laughter is all about -- order your copy today.
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