The Tigger Movie 2 and 1/2 Stars (Out of 4) Reviewed by Mac VerStandig critic@moviereviews.org http://www.moviereviews.org February 7, 2000 USA Release Date - February 11, 2000
---A copy of this review can be found at http://www.moviereviews.org/tigger_movie,_the.htm ---
Slightly amusing and totally innocuous, but ultimately troubled, The Tigger Movie proves that even the almighty Disney can mess up a children's film. No, its not as bad as the mess formally known as Pokemon and the non-summer/non-Thanksgiving release date should act as a tip off, but Pooh and company are capable of much more than this 74 minute blemish on the legendary Hundred-Acre Wood.
The rambunctious Tigger is looking for someone to go bouncing with (after all, that's what Tiggers do best!) when he manages to test the nerves of all his pals, especially Rabbit. As it becomes obvious that no one can bounce quite like Tigger (although Roo, the kangaroo, certainly does try), Rabbit sarcastically advises that Tigger find his family and go bouncing with them. Taking these words to a literal extreme, our protagonist begins the search for his long-lost family.
What the movie does have going for it is the unforgettable qualities of its characters. Winnie the Pooh is the innocent and well meaning but intellectually challenged bear. Owl is the wise and good-intentioned but ultimately insomnia-curing owl. Piglet is the adorable little pig who is light as a feather. Eeyore is the sluggish and self-unimportant donkey that is cursed with bad luck. Kanga is the single mother that every kangaroo would love to have. And Tigger is, well, Tigger is T-I-double guh-rrr, Tigger.
Unlike the recent family hit, Toy Story 2, The Tigger Movie has little to offer on any level other than that appealing to its five-year-old audience. The one time anything multidimensional is attempted comes when The Brady Bunch, Rodin's Thinker and other non-pre-school references are made in a chorus-line production that sticks out like a talking tiger in a Lethal Weapon movie.
One thing parents needn't worry about here are the morals portrayed; they are all family-value oriented. Roo, the little kangaroo, has only a single mother, Kanga. Tigger occupies and mentors Roo by taking him along on his quest and teaching him things like the whoopdidoopersuperlooperallilooper bounce. Roo, in turn, cares for Tigger and tries to cheer him up when his voyage is looking dim.
Although the trait has become synonymous with Disney films, sappiness prevails a little too much here. The normally cheerful humor of Christopher Robin's pals is weighed down by slow-paced songs that clearly exist to 1) try to bring the audience to tears and 2) sell a lot of soundtracks.
As I was leaving the theatre after seeing this film, someone asked me if I thought it was a classic. After all, many Disney animated features achieve that status and Winnie the Pooh certainly has as well. My answer was "no" and, probably because of the hereditary higher standard this movie is held to, that means it is a failure.
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