Overcoming stereotypes with Pooh

Winnie, Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit and Eeyore take the backseat in "Pooh's Heffalump Movie," an amusing tale of disproving prejudice and finding new friends. \nThe movie follows Roo as he attempts to prove he's grown up and can hunt heffalumps on his own. After capturing Lumpy the heffalump, Roo discovers the stories about heffalumps that the rest of the gang told him are inaccurate and the two quickly become friends. \nThe adventurous plot carries important messages to its child audience. Roo and Lumpy are forced to see past their preconceived notions about each other and work to educate their family and friends to dispel ignorance.\nThis movie acts as an interesting follow-up to one of the most terrifying sequences in a Disney feature: some might remember Pooh's nightmare in "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" where he is forced to watch as heffalumps and woozles try to steal all his honey. \nThere is another interesting element to the movie's subtext as it investigates growing up and every child's desire to be treated as an adult. \nA movie for Pooh fans of all-ages, a sense of self-reflexivity is created for college-aged moviegoers as many concern themselves too much with growing up and becoming adults. Parents can identify with the mother figures of the film who can do nothing but sit back and watch as their children grow older. \nThe movie is a refreshing throwback to Disney's golden days when hand drawn animation could still bring in a crowd. The artwork is everything one could hope for in a "Winnie the Pooh" movie. Where Pixar and other CGI animations are the wave of the future, thank goodness the occasional hand drawn feature still surfaces from time to time.\nHowever, the movie lacks several elements. The film weighs in at a light 68 minutes making one unsure why Disney decided to release it in theaters instead of straight to video -- a more suitable market. Also, the absence of Pooh and gang for a majority of the animated feature begs the question: why "Pooh's Heffalump Movie?" This is clearly a movie about Roo and his coming of age.\nWhile "Pooh's Heffalump Movie" is a pleasant way to spend an hour and change, it might be best to wait for a video release. Though, if you give it a chance, it'll make you smile.