Once again, Disney takes a classic and turns it into a live action movie to reiterate and bring back to life characters for younger moviegoers. Christopher Robin is a muddled, family film that can’t quite decide which direction its going to go in. The plot is an interesting depiction of what almost appears to be an existential crisis. Not only for Christopher Robin, played by Ewan McGregor, himself but also for Disney as a movie-making giant. Throughout Christopher Robin, there are darker tones that are apparent and take over most of the film. Taking a well-known plot of a father caught up in his work, Disney turns it into a depressing rendition of a man who has lost the ability to take joy out of life. Christopher Robin, now a grown man, has forgotten about his adventures in the 100 Acre Woods and the life mottos that the ‘silly old bear’ Winnie the Pooh had taught him. He’s a man obsessed with work oftentimes choosing it over his family. That is until Pooh makes a surprise visit at Christopher Robin’s new home in London, and ensues a mad journey of Pooh and Christopher Robin trying to find Pooh’s friends- Eeyore, Piglet, Rabbit, Tiger, Owl and Kanga and Roo.

The film explores the importance of childhood imagination in a dark manner, examining the loss of imagination in grown ups. In a way, Christopher Robin is a letter to all adult moviegoers who attend Disney films. Whether the message of Christopher Robin is supposed to be about adults forgetting about characters like Pooh, or if it is a self-reflection on the movie-making giant and its supposed purpose in the world.

If its the first then Disney is calling out adult moviegoers and their lack of remembrance for their childhood favorites, who in this film, are forgotten and left behind for the world of adults and working. Christopher Robin grapples with returning to his childhood and playing when Pooh first reappears in his life. Eventually he is able to find joy in playing with Pooh and his friends, but only when he defeats a hufflelump, which turns out to be himself. A very obvious way to say that he defeated his inner self to be able to return to how he was when he was a child.

However, if it is the second then Disney is truly evaluating its place in film, especially with the adult audiences. It still deals with the idea of childhood in a way that becomes about Disney’s relevancy for adults who have moved on from stories, like Aladdin and Sleeping Beauty, exchanging them for work and a family life.

Despite Disney and Christopher Robin facing an existential crisis on purpose, the plot plunks along plundering through different plot lines to make a motley storyline of finding Pooh’s friends, Christopher Robin connecting with his family and also of him dealing with issues at work. Though the plot is lacking in some spots and the story is one seen before, it still reaches out and tugs at the strings of nostalgia. Winnie the Pooh is the same as ever with philosophical quotes that are both deep and whimsical. The one thing Christopher Robin does succeed in is bringing you back to your childhood through these characters that most have grown up with. Pooh and his friends are masterfully created in a new style that truly brings out the fact that they are toys. You can see the fabric that they are made out of and the toy-like way that they all walk. Even some of the songs from the old cartoons made it in, making the film a true treat for Winnie the Pooh fans.

Ewan McGregor also shines throughout the movie, giving a different twist to the child hero. McGregor falls into the role perfectly and draws audiences in with his midlife crisis. Though the plot does his character an unjustice, McGregor truly does pull the best out of his character, providing us with a charming version of Christopher Robin.

Even with its faults, there are moments in the film that make you stop and think one moment and then the next you will find a smile plastered on your face from a funny or heartwarming scene. Christopher Robin is a perplexing film that will keep audiences entertained and leave them with something to think about.