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We watched this movie on Netflix last weekend, having missed it on the big screen, and it touched both of our hearts. Maybe it is because we had kids that had “real” (never say stuffed, for it would hurt their feelings) friends too that this movie hit us where it counted. Anyway, I give it a loose five stars.

There were tons of morals here, all of which made me rejoice. So even though this movie starts out slowly, taking a while to gather steam, its sweet message lingers poignantly still, a few days after seeing it.

Some say the trope of the “workaholic Dad” is over used in movies, but for those of us who made other choices and see the blessing of an opposite approach, we don’t respond that way, probably because we are not put on the defensive about bucking up and complying with all the mind numbing pain of the “real” world.

Also if you know the Winnie the Pooh stories as we do – our kids had both the books and the audio on cassette– there are many layered allusions to those stories that you don’t need to know to enjoy the movie, but which add to it if you do know them.

And it is true, our loved ones want us to be with them more than they want us to sacrifice that for money or responsibility. Sometimes you have to “do nothing” for long enough to think more creatively, and to notice all that you have to be grateful for. All of us adults need to keep alive the wonder of childhood more, and never stop playing. Laugh and have some fun. This movie is a good reminder of these things.

Need something cozy, dear, and unchallenging to bring out your childlikeness? Then this one’s for you.

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