Easter Day with You

Springtime with Roo brings Easter to the Hundred Acre Wood. Unlike Seasons of Giving or A Very Merry Pooh Year, Springtime with Roo is entirely original without reusing TV specials or episodes of The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Like The Tigger Movie and Piglet’s Big Movie, the animation is really good, but it was another direct-to-video Disney release. We also return to the traditional opening of the book. Though we see Christopher Robin’s bedroom, he’s just as absent as Owl. It’s actually David Ogden Stiers who takes a much more active role as the narrator. Like Tigger in his own movie, Roo bounces out of the book and asks about the story.

A very young Jimmy Bennett takes over as the voice of the rambunctious Roo. He tells Kanga how excited he is for the Easter egg hunt and celebration. Pooh looks forward to his special honey pot, Piglet wants his pink Easter basket, Tigger has a stripedy egg, and Eeyore loves his fluffy bunny ears. Although Roo’s name is in the title, Rabbit is the true main character. This is an Easter story after all and he would be the Easter Bunny. Except Rabbit replaces Easter with spring cleaning since he wants nothing to do with the holiday. Springtime with Roo is an obvious Easter themed take on A Christmas Carol. Rabbit is the perfect Scrooge and Roo fits the role of Tiny Tim.

Tigger literally takes Rabbit earlier in the book where he shows him Roo’s first Easter. Rabbit is far too organized and no one has fun until Tigger steps in. Making Rabbit feel unwanted and Roo hoping to help him find his Easter spirit doesn’t help. In an interesting twist, the narrator takes Rabbit to unwritten pages where the entire Hundred Acre Wood has moved away. Rabbit has a change of heart and gives Roo and friends the best Easter ever. Songs like “The Way it Must Be Done” and “The Grandest Easter of Them All” belong to Rabbit. “Sniffly Sniff” is just for Pooh. “We’re Hunting Eggs Today” and “Easter Day with You” belong to everyone. Springtime with Roo feels like Spring.

Pooh and friends try to celebrate Easter with Rabbit

If I Wasn’t So Small

Piglet’s Big Movie is bigger than a small animal could ask for. After the success of The Tigger Movie, Disney decided to give another classic Winnie the Pooh character the spotlight. Though he was left out of Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, Piglet found his voice as Pooh’s often fearful best friend who’s braver than he thinks. Although my dad took my brother and I to see The Tigger Movie, the chance of seeing Piglet’s Big Movie was unlikely. It’s one of two Disneytoon Studios movies released in theaters after The Jungle Book 2. Once again the animation is better than most direct-to-video movies without sacrificing its simplicity. Unlike most Winnie the Pooh movies, we don’t get a book or a narrator. The theme song is played in the Hundred Acre Wood from Piglet’s perspective. John Fiedler finally gets top-billing, but Piglet doesn’t get all the attention.

Piglet starts to feel left out for being so small. Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, and Eeyore all ignore him when he helps them retrieve honey from a swarm of bees. Piglet goes off on his own and his friends try to find him using his scrapbook. Although Owl returns after his absence in A Very Merry Pooh Year, he’s only around to ramble. Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, Eeyore, and later Roo are the ones searching. Piglet’s Big Movie isn’t an anthology, but many flashbacks feel like short stories. All of which are based on stories from Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner. The first story concerns Kanga & Roo moving in for the first time. Rabbit is paranoid, but Piglet reluctantly agrees to discover their intentions. Roo is swapped with Piglet who gets a motherly bath from Kanga. It’s an odd scene, but it is nice to see the origin of two underappreciated residents. The second story concerns Christopher Robin leading everyone on an expedition to the North Pole. Roo ends up floating down the river and Piglet is the one who rescues him. It’s a good hero moment even though the stick gets the credit.

The third story concerns the titular house at Pooh Corner that Pooh and Piglet built for Eeyore. Tigger and Christopher Robin are also involved, but Pooh brands the house despite Piglet doing most of the work. Rabbit and Tigger have a rare fight that causes them to lose the scrapbook. Though they draw their own memories for Piglet, they still try to save the book. The climax is Pooh nearly falling off a log into the river, but Piglet arrives just in time to save the day. Finally giving him the respect he deserves. After her previous contribution, Carly Simon replaces the narrator to sing Piglet’s innermost thoughts. “If I Wasn’t So Small” is Piglet’s anthem. “Mother’s Intuition” is mostly for Kanga. “Sing Ho for the Life of a Bear” is a fun number for the entire cast. “The More It Snows (Tiddely-Pom)” is a bit cheesy, but it’s for Pooh and Piglet. “With a Few Good Friends” is sung during the house building montage and oddly enough, Carly Simon appears in person during the end credits to sing it. Piglet’s Big Movie should be d-d-d-dear to any fan’s heart.

Piglet is surprised

The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers

The Tigger Movie is Tiggerific! Aside from Winnie the Pooh himself, Tigger is the very best character from the Hundred Acre Wood. Giving him his own spin-off is a no-brainer. Although intended to be another direct-to-video Disney movie, The Tigger Movie was surprisingly given a theatrical release. Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner saw the potential when the Sherman Brothers provided original songs for the first time in 28 years. The Tigger Movie was a rare Disney Television Animation movie that my dad actually took my brother and I to see in theaters. Since I was 4 at the time, my memory was kind of fuzzy. The Tigger Movie opens much like The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh with Christopher Robin’s live-action bedroom and book narration from John Hurt. Until Tigger interrupts requesting his own movie.

Though the animation is just as simple and sketchy as it’s always been, you can tell it was released in theaters. Tigger is as bouncy and high energy as ever. Original voice actor Paul Winchell was set to return, but Jim Cummings officially took over in addition to voicing Pooh bear. All Tigger wants is someone to bounce with, but Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Kanga are all busy. Though child voice actor Nikita Hopkins didn’t have much to do in Seasons of Giving, Roo really shines in The Tigger Movie. Roo looks up to Tigger like a big brother and wants to bounce with him. When Eeyore’s house is destroyed for the umpteenth time, Rabbit yells at Tigger for making things worse. The movie centers around Tigger trying to find a Tigger family from his family tree. When no one answers his letter, Owl writes a letter with the help of Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga & Roo. Rabbit is more concerned with preparing for winter. When Tigger prepares for a family gathering, everyone tries to cheer him up by dressing like Tiggers.

It’s a sweet gesture, but Tigger says “TTFN” when he learns the truth. Rabbit finally tries to help by leading a team to find him in a snow storm. The climax is a terrible avalanche that requires a super duper bounce from Tigger and Roo. Christopher Robin arrives to help Tigger realize he isn’t the only one after all. Ending with the heartwarming realization that the Hundred Acre Wood is his real family. Of course Tigger’s signature song “The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers” is front and center. “Someone Like Me” is a sadder anthem, but “Whoop-De-Dooper Bounce” is bouncy and fun. “Pooh’s Lullabee” is a bit of a non sequitur when Pooh tries to find Tigger’s family in a honey tree. “Round My Family Tree” is filled with pop culture references in Tigger form. Though not as inappropriate as using “Semi-Charmed Life” in the trailer. “How to Be a Tigger” brings everyone together to understand what makes Tigger bounce. “Your Heart Will Lead You Home” is a nice Kenny Loggins song for the closing credits. The wonderful thing about The Tigger Movie is that it’s the only one.

Tigger bounces

The Great Unknown

Pooh’s Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin invites us to go further than the Hundred Acre Wood. After 2 direct-to-video Aladdin sequels, Disney gave Winnie the Pooh his own full length adventure. Though I wouldn’t exactly call it a sequel to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Despite continuing to recapture the basic, yet heartwarming animation of the first film. Many original voice actors return and replacements like Jim Cummings or Peter Cullen were first heard in the 80’s cartoon The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. I know my brother and I watched Pooh’s Grand Adventure when we were little, but all I remember was the fear I felt seeing Pooh in an unfamiliar place. The movie omits the classic reading of a book in favor of narration from David Warner.

Unlike previous Pooh stories, The Search for Christopher Robin isn’t based on a specific A. A. Milne story. Pooh’s Grand Adventure gives a nice amount of attention to the tender friendship between a boy and his silly old bear. Christopher Robin tries to tell Pooh he’s going to school, but the latter would much rather enjoy doing nothing. Summer turns to autumn and Christopher Robin leaves Pooh with a honey pot and a note. The entire movie hinges on Pooh and friends misunderstanding the note. As usual, Owl causes problems by misreading “school” as “skull” and sending everyone on a scary adventure to “The Great Unknown.” Pooh is joined by Piglet, Tigger, Rabbit, and Eeyore. Kanga & Roo aren’t around since it would’ve been too dangerous.

There’s something a little off-putting about seeing such innocent characters in dark forests, treacherous caverns, and facing a possible “Skullasaurus.” Everyone except Eeyore learns a lesson that Christopher Robin taught Pooh. Piglet is brave enough to conquer his fear of heights, Tigger is strong enough to bounce very high, and Rabbit is smart enough to figure out the map. Songs include the heartfelt “Forever and Ever,” adventurous “Adventure is a Wonderful Thing,” misguided “If It Says So,” somber “Wherever You Are,” and cheerful “Everything is Right.” Though I’m more likely to forget it, Pooh’s Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin does have nice messages to remember.

Pooh and friends are lost

You’re a Lifesaver

Tully is one of the most brutally honest portrayals of motherhood in recent memory. Happy Mother’s Day everyone! Tully is essentially the final chapter in an unintentional trilogy directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. Juno is about a teenager thrust into adulthood, Young Adult is about an adult trying to be a teenager, and Tully is about accepting motherhood. The latter films are more closely connected with an R rating and Charlize Theron as the star. Unlike Young Adult, I knew about Tully when it came out, but I thought it looked too harsh.

Though I prefer heartfelt movies about being a mother, I know it’s not always easy. Cody herself was inspired by her own difficult pregnancy. Even for an action heroine, Theron has never looked so beaten up. Marlo is pregnant for the first half and retains her mom bod after giving birth. Ron Livingston is her hardworking husband Drew who does as much as he can. Sarah is her oldest daughter and Jonah is her only son who has special needs. Something that causes her to blow up at his school.

Marlo is constantly stressed, exhausted, and frequently dreams about a mermaid. Mark Duplass is her rich brother Craig who, along with his wife, offers a new age solution. Mackenzie Davis is the young free-spirited night nanny Tully who forms a believable bond with Marlo. She helps care for baby Mia and helps Marlo become a better wife and mother. I knew there had to be something more to their relationship, so I wasn’t surprised when the twist was revealed. Tully may not be the most pleasant experience, but it does find its footing in the end.

Marlo with her baby

YA

Young Adult is an unpleasant look at someone who refuses to grow up. After their success with Juno, director Jason Reitman and Academy Award winning writer Diablo Cody reunited for the next stage of life. Mavis Gary is a thirtysomething ghost writer of young adult novels. Cody was partially inspired by herself as a grown woman who writes about adolescent characters. Unlike Juno or even Jennifer’s Body, Young Adult isn’t as funny as it could’ve been. Charlize Theron is convincing, but Mavis is far from a good person.

Mavis is a sad lonely alcoholic writing the last book in a cancelled series. J. K. Simmons has a brief voice cameo as her boss. She lives in Minneapolis with her dog, but Mavis returns to her small town of Mercury under false pretenses. Young Adult is like My Best Friend’s Wedding if the main character stooped even lower. Patrick Wilson is her happily married ex Buddy Slade that she tries to get back together with after the birth of his infant daughter. Elizabeth Reaser is Buddy’s cool band playing wife Beth who is genuinely inviting towards Mavis. Despite Buddy’s obliviousness, Mavis is convinced he wants her.

Mavis tries to avoid her parents and cousin, but most of her time is spent with someone she barely remembers. Patton Oswalt is the overweight and nerdy voice of reason Matt Freehauf who was left disabled by bullies in high school. Despite being opposites, Matt and Mavis connect over drinks and even have an unlikely hook up. Aside from Beth, Matt is a genuinely good person who calls Mavis out on her destructive behavior. When Mavis does finally blow up, it’s very uncomfortable to watch. Though it seems like Mavis might change for the better, Matt’s creepily obsessed sister Sandra played by Collette Wolfe tells her she’s better than everyone else in town. Young Adult has a needed message about moving on buried beneath an overly cynical tone.

Mavis Gary signs her own book

Target After Dark

Career Opportunities is every boy’s dream. Being trapped in a building with the hottest girl in school. I knew nothing about Career Opportunities, but I was drawn to it when I kept seeing the clip of Jennifer Connelly riding a coin-operated pony. Turns out marketing used the same clip in order to attract young males. I knew it had to be a John Hughes movie, but apparently he wanted his name removed from it. Career Opportunities is like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off meets Home Alone. Frank Whaley is the far less charismatic Jim Dodge known as the “town liar.” The problem is Jim won’t shut up and can’t hold onto a job.

I can relate to him living at home, but there’s not a whole lot of nuance. He’s a 20 something living with his father, mother, younger brother, and grown up sister. I’m not sure if it’s good product placement, but a majority of the film takes place inside Target®. John Candy makes an uncredited appearance as the store manager who gives Jim a crappy night custodian job. Like Home Alone, Jim seizes the opportunity to goof off, eat whatever he wants, and skate around the store in his underwear. It just so happens, beautiful rich girl Josie McClellan is also trapped there over night. Josie is salacious, but she desperately wants to get away from her controlling father.

Although they’re complete opposites, Josie still ends up wanting to run away with Jim by the end. Josie’s father tries to find his daughter with the town sheriff, but there’s no reason to keep cutting back to Jim’s father eating all night. Since Home Alone literally came out the previous year, Hughes throws in an unnecessary criminal element. Dermot and Kieran Mulroney are a little too serious for this movie. Jim and Josie use their respective skills to outsmart the crooks and get everything they wanted. Career Opportunities doesn’t quite hit the target.

Josie rides a horse

Enchanted Peasant Girl

Mannequin Two: On the Move is a dull and lifeless sequel that doesn’t need to exist. As ridiculous as the first Mannequin is, it was successful enough to warrant a sequel. Even though Emmy became real and lived happily ever after with Jonathan. Instead they create a whole new scenario involving a living mannequin that makes even less sense. Kristy Swanson is the lovely peasant girl Jessie who is cursed by an evil sorcerer for 1,000 years. She happens to look like a mannequin and that mannequin happens to end up at the exact same department store from the first movie.

The only returning characters are the lovesick security guard named Andy and Meshach Taylor given way too much screen time as Hollywood. Yet Hollywood’s pink convertible and flamboyant mannerisms are almost subtle compared to the villains. Bernie himself Terry Kiser is the descendant of the evil sorcerer Count Spretzle. He transports the “Enchanted Peasant Girl” using his overly cartoonish German meathead minions. William Ragsdale is the new lead Jason Williamson who is the reincarnated Prince William.

Cynthia Harris is his queen mother who runs a dating service. Stuart Pankin is his boss who continually makes a fool of himself. Jason unknowingly reunites with his long lost love Jessie. The charm of the first movie is lost when Jessie is just a fish out of water who doesn’t freeze when people see her. She only freezes while wearing an enchanted necklace and it takes characters way too long to figure that out. The ending is seriously overblown, but it ends almost the exact same way with a wedding set to “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.” Mannequin Two: On the Move should’ve been stopped at all costs.

Jessie comes alive in front of Jason

Preceded by: Mannequin

Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now

Mannequin is all about the love between a man and his mannequin. Somehow it’s not as weird as it sounds. Mannequin was unsurprisingly written off by critics, but its premise is too ridiculous not to have fun with it. It’s practically an honorary Brat Pack film with Andrew McCarthy and James Spader reuniting after Pretty in Pink. McCarthy is struggling artist Jonathan Switcher who can’t hold down a job. He creates a beautiful mannequin who only comes to life for Jonathan when no one else is looking. Kim Cattrall is plenty of fun as Emmy. She’s actually an Ancient Egyptian woman brought to life as a great work of art.

It doesn’t make sense, but the romance between Jonathan and Emmy is taken very seriously. He gets a job at the Prince & Company department store after he rescues Estelle Getty as the kind owner Claire. He keeps the job when Emmy helps him make eye-catching window displays. You know it’s the 80’s when Meshach Taylor plays an incredibly flamboyant gay co-worker named Hollywood. Though it all sounds very low stakes, Mannequin is filled with cartoonish bad guys trying to sabotage Jonathan. Spader is the jealous store manager Mr. Richard. G. W. Bailey is the store’s security guard Felix who tries to catch the mannequin in action.

Carole Davis is Jonathan’s former girlfriend Roxie who works for the competing store Illustra. Steve Vinovich is her scheming boss B.J. and Christopher Maher is her creep co-worker Armand. Despite Jonathan looking crazy a number of times, Emmy eventually becomes a real girl through the power of love. Not only did Mannequin gain a cult following, it was also Oscar nominated for the 80’s power ballad “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” by Starship. I’ll bet you didn’t know that song was referring to a mannequin. Mannequin is a perfect display of the 80’s at their most bonkers.

Jonathan rides with Emmy

Followed by: Mannequin Two: On the Move

Red Lectroids from Planet 10

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension exists in its own little world. The movie originated from author Earl Mac Rauch. Screenwriter W. D. Richter read his first book and was determined to direct one of his stories. Rauch kept starting and stopping screenplays about the character Buckaroo Banzai. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai is a science fiction action adventure comedy romance. Buckaroo Banzai himself is a neurosurgeon, a physicist, a martial artist, a test pilot, and a rock star. There are so many great nerd movies from 1984, but I just don’t get the appeal of Buckaroo Banzai. Though it was initially written off by critics, it was destined to have a cult following. A mostly unknown Peter Weller plays the multi-talented Banzai who feels very unassuming. He fights, studies, and sings with a group of allies called “The Hong Kong Cavaliers.”

Jeff Goldblum plays New Jersey who wears a cowboy suit. Lewis Smith plays the bleach blonde Perfect Tommy. Clancy Brown plays gun-toting Rawhide. Pepe Serna plays Reno Nevada, Billy Vera plays Pinky, and Michael Santoro plays Billy Travers. Very few of them stand out. Bill Henderson joins them as pilot Casper Lindley and so does his young son Scooter. Ellen Barkin plays Penny Priddy who he meets at their only gig. It gets confusing when she ends up being the long lost twin of his late wife. Robert Ito is Buckaroo’s Chinese mentor Professor Tohichi Hikita who helps him develop an “overthruster” for his Jet Car. More confusing is the car crossing the titular 8th Dimension that starts an invasion of Red Lectroids from Planet 10. Banzai is the only one who can see the aliens for what they really are.

John Lithgow hams it up as the Italian mad scientist Dr. Lizardo. All the Lectroids are named John for some reason. Lizardo is possessed by Lord John Whorfin who plots to destroy the Earth. Christopher Lloyd is the oddly named Red Lectroid John Bigbooté. Vincent Schiavelli is another Red Lectroid named John O’Connor. Red Lectroids are at odds with Black Lectroids led by Rosalind Cash as John Emdall. A young Carl Lumbly is the Jamaican Black Lectroid John Parker who assists Banzai. The President is also involved. I want to like Buckaroo Banzai, but its tone is so deadpan that I can’t even see it as campy fun. With the exception of a TV series, it does make sense that books, comics, and video games came out of the movie. A sequel was never made despite an awkward promise of one at the end. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension will only appeal to so many people.

Buckaroo Banzai and the Hong Kong Cavaliers

Not followed by: Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League