I always get to where I’m going by walking away from where I’ve been – Winnie the Pooh
So, I did!. I walked away from the computer, the garden, the laundry and such, adjusted my newly installed magnificent driver’s side mirror, repositioned my car’s seat and rambled off to the elegant La Grange Theatre. Oh, it was a journey, for certain, for are not all walking aways filled with challenges?
The first challenge was my own winding road. The bridge to be crossed is being repaired and down to one lane with a temporary stack of poles and lights giving drivers the green when the way is clear. I sat for at least 5 precious minutes waiting for the light to turn green, with no car coming the opposite way during the entire wait. Then, a freight train, a very slow moving freight train, ate up another 5 precious minutes, followed by much traffic juggling for parking spaces, turn lanes, pedestrians, and bicyclists who all felt that the road was their very own (when, really, wasn’t it just mine?)
I parked the car in the very last available spot, then I walked as fast a I walk these days and entered the gilded theatre! Ticket in hand, in I went, to the opening strains of a woodsy tea party awaiting Christopher Robin for a sad goodbye as woodland friends gathered in the 100 Acre Woods and were brought to life by the magic of imagination.
I found a seat, which wasn’t hard as there were but a dozen or so “walkers away” in the theatre; a group of women in front of me, a few more mid-section, an older fellow with a soft drink in one hand, a big container of popcorn in the other, and a mother with her preschool aged child across the aisle from me. The little girl was the bow on the gift of this movie. I could hear her uttering her fears in the scary parts, crawling onto her mama’s lap, and her infectious squeals of laughter were as if on cue from the movie’s director, as Tigger bounces, Eeyore laments and Owl pontificates. Quiet moments and mad-cap scenes made all-the-more delightful by this young darling.
Christopher Robin is a story of finding one’s self while battling the hufflelumps and woofles of life, all on a weekend when the overworked, adult Christopher must work on a way to cut costs for the suitcase company he works for with others’ jobs on the line, while his boss goes off to play golf, and his wife and daughter are off to the Robin cottage in Sussex.
In-the-meantime, long forgotten Winnie cannot find his best friends and misses the long-gone Christopher Robin, who surely would know how to find them. Winnie does, well, what Winnie does, which is to walk away from where he is to find Christopher.
What a beautiful, funny, sad, thought-provoking movie this is. To think, I might not have gone off and walked away had it not been for the fact that yet another certain young girl, who owns my heart, but who lives far, far away, remarked to her mommy upon seeing Christopher Robin that she thought Yia Yia might enjoy it, too – and I did. I most certainly did, and I think that you might as well.
“Doing nothing often leads to the very best of something.” – Winnie the Pooh
https://movies.disney.com/christopher-robin
(movie trailer from the official Disney site)
Really looking forward to watching that movie. Thank you so much for sharing!
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Oh, do see it. It is as delightful as it is meaningful.
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Oh how I enjoyed your ‘walk away”. (And must go see the movie based on your review.) So glad you acted on that certain young lady’s recommendation. I’ve learned so much from my grandchildren over the years — immeasurable pleasure in doing so!
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“immeasurable pleasure” – oh YES! Love that. Kezzie knows me well and it warms my heart, and, like you, I learn so much from the grands. Do see it if you have a chance, Sallie, or just need to “walk away” for a bit. 🙂
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Don’t you love those days when you can forget about being about a grown-up? I am so glad you saw this movie and will be sure to see it if it comes my way. Maybe I need to get my Milne books out and have a Christopher Robin mental health day!
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Oh, I do, I do, Marilyn, I certainly do love these days. I may take the Antler Man and see it again, as I know he, too, will enjoy it and identify with some of both the young and the older Christopher Robin goes through. Just this afternoon, I took out “House at Pooh Corner”. Thank you, Marilyn.
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I have had every intention of seeing this movie and just haven’t, Penny! I’m so glad you did, and very pleased you enjoyed it. Have you been able to tell your special someone that Yia Yia did indeed see the movie and enjoy it? She knows you well. 🙂
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I think you will enjoy this when you have a chance, Debra. I went on the spur of the moment a few days after Katy mentioned seeing it and said that Kezzie thought I would enjoy it. I have not been able to tell her I saw it, but, I am sure her mommy did. She happened to text me just as I was leaving the show. 🙂 There were a few spots where it brought tears to my eyes as I recognized my own adult foibles, then, the pure joy of being where you are!
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So many people are recommending this movie! I need to see it! So glad your granddaughter coaxed you to go. 😀
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I thought of you as I walked out of the theatre, L. Marie. I think there are many elements of this movie that you would enjoy and appreciate. I’m glad she coaxed me as well. Hope you are enjoying some of this lovely day.
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I absolutely loved this movie! Saw it with 2 of my grandsons, who also loved it. We have been reading some of the stories. Thanks for the review! I love reading your stories.
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Oh, June, how fun that must have been to see it with two of your grands. I came home and pulled out some of my own Winnie-the-Pooh books. Such wisdom. 🙂 You are very welcome and I thank you for your kind words and for commenting.
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I saw the movie with my neighbor. At first it appeared we’d be the only two in the theater, but a group of four came in just as the movie started. Not sure why more people aren’t seeing this movie, although my daughter had told me the movie was sad, and it sure started that way. I recommend it.
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I thought the same thing, Sue, though the small audience seemed to appreciate Christopher Robin when I saw it. I did get teary a few times, but, it was more toward the last part. I think I was just overwhelmed by the messages this movie gave. I would see it again – and just might with Tom.
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This is such a well written, enjoyable movie review Penny! Your journey to the theater and being stuck at the construction traffic light for 5 minutes with no other cars coming reminded me of what happens here a lot!
I am going to have to make a point to see this movie 🙂
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Thank you so much, Janet. I appreciate your kind words. It can be frustrating, this waiting and waiting with no reason to wait (now I sound like Pooh 🙂 ) Our lights will be temporary, but, I can empathize your long waits. As you know, there is always road construction this time of year, but, yikes! this year has been worse than most. I swear, every single town I go through has roadwork, some with better fore-thought than others. At any rate, I was determined to see “Christopher Robin” – and so glad I did. Do see it if it comes your way. I think you will enjoy it.
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What a beautiful column …This Yia Yia was lucky to see it with the grandkids( who that day were not “far far away” )lovely to see they can still be enchanted as was YiaYia.
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Thank you, Vickie – and you were one lucky Yia Yia! How fun to experience the enchantment together with the grandkids. We savor these times when we are together with them, for certain.
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I saw the movie and loved it Penny but I also enjoyed reading your lovely review and your adventures of getting to the theater.
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So glad you saw the movie, Gerlinde. It is as much for us adults as for the children, isn’t it? Thank you for your kind words. Off I go . . . on another adventure. 🙂
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This is an interesting Disney movie! Great movie review.. Thanks for sharing! my daughter is still 8 months but I can add this movie for her to watch when she’s going to be a toddler:)
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Thank you, Kate, and for stopping by and commenting. You will experience so many movie adventures with your daughter as she gets a bit older. Enjoy.
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Dear Penny, thanks so much for sharing with us the trailed for the Pooh movie and also your own delight in it. I so want to see it, but finding someone who likes these imaginative movies is hard. so I always end up getting them the following year from the library. i’ve seen so many 2017 movies this year and just had a whooping good time! Peace.
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You are welcome, Dee. If I lived near you I would take you to see “Christopher Robin as I am sure you would enjoy it. Once it is at your library, I hope you will be able to check it out and view it then. As it is, I saw this at when it came to one of our “cheaper” theaters, but, it was well worth the wait. Peace, dear friend.
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What a fun sounding movie, and I enjoyed hearing about another adventure in your car. I was touched that you made the effort because of a certain special little girl, and can imagine myself doing just the same.
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I am sure you would do so as well, Juliet. I was touched that she thought I would enjoy it – and pleased that I did. I need to check your latest post. You are headed into spring as we descend into fall.
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