Tigger Movie Movie Review

The outcome of "The Tigger Movie," in which Winnie the Pooh's bouncy-trouncy pal sets out in search of others of his stripe, is pretty much a foredrawn conclusion. After all, "the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I'm the only one," right?

So obviously the spring-loaded, faux feline is predestined to learn that his friends at Pooh Corner are his real family -- and the audience is asked to just enjoy the journey.

What an easy assignment. One hundred-percent in the spirit and style of the timeless Pooh 'toons everyone knows and loves (illustrated book pages turning between chapters and all the familiar trappings), this first full-length feature for Christopher Robin's stuffed animals is an amiable adventure with sweet wit and a warm heart rarely seen in kids movies anymore.

The story opens with the Pooh, Piglet, Rabbit, Eeyore, and Kanga preparing for an imminent winter and far to busy to play with poor Tigger. He just wants someone to bounce with, and even though little Roo is eager to learn all his moves, Tigger feels a mite dejected. Thus he begins his quest for kin, figuring any other out in the world Tiggers would also rather bounce than do anything else.

Pooh and party eventually pitch in, scouring the 100 Acre Woods for any sign of other Tiggers, and failing that, dress up as a Tigger family to fool their friend and try to cheer him up -- a plan that goes awry when Piglet slides out of his costume.

Except for one out-of-place, pop-culture-savvy, "Aladdin"-like production number (forgivable for being in a fantasy sequence), "The Tigger Movie" sticks with the wonderfully unpolished Pooh animation techniques and the golden watercolor backgrounds of A.A. Milne's perpetual autumn.

Writer-director Jun Falkenstein, who has worked on Pooh projects before, has a great respect for the Milne's menagerie and the animators that came before him. She brings out the best in each of these adored characters. I was reminded by this movie of how much I loved the down-trodden Eeyore and that silly ol' bear as a child.

"The Tigger Movie" is no masterpiece of children's cinema like a "Toy Story 2" or an "Iron Giant," but in its trademarked and traditional way, it's a total delight.