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'Pooh's Heffalump Movie' is pleasing enough
"Pooh's Heffalump Movie"
Walt Disney Films
Director: Frank Nissen
Stars: Voices of Jim Cummings, John Fiedler, David Ogden Stiers
MPAA rating: G
You might find you have a lot in common with the odd-looking creature who had seemed scary because of his differences.
A little of it goes a long way, though. I was astonished when it ended after just 68 minutes, several of them consumed by the closing credits. But pleased. Very pleased. Like, enough already.
As explained by narrator David Ogden Stiers, the kiddie kangaroo named Roo (voiced by Nikita Hopkins), who lives with doting single-mom Kanga (Kath Soucie), leaves his tree home one day to play with several friends including Winnie the Pooh and Tigger (both voiced by Jim Cummings), Rabbit (Ken Samson) and Piglet (John Fiedler).
The others are disturbed by the massive footprints left by Mama Heffalump (Brenda Blethyn) and some indications that she and/or other Heffalumps have been cavorting in Hundred-Acre Wood when no one's looking. Roo crosses the fence and befriends Mama Heffalump's kiddie offspring Lumpy. Mama and Lumpy are ordinary elephants.
What concerns me here is that Disney too frequently is slapping its name on substandard cartoons.
Looking for all the world like something produced for a cable cartoon show, "Pooh's Heffalump Movie" was made for direct-to-video release, then upgraded.
There's no depth of field. The animation of backgrounds is flat. No cloud blows, no blade of grass bends. The songs are so minor you might have trouble remembering them while they're being sung.
We already have quantity. Why not try for something with a shelf life longer than milk?
