POOH'S HEFFALUMP HALLOWEEN MOVIE - DVD review

I can see it now: Kids in shopping carts suddenly leaning forward as their mothers pass the display shelves in order to grab a copy of "Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie" because of the plush toy that it comes packaged with. At first glance the plush animal that's about as tall and wide as the average DVD keep case looks like Tigger, but if you take another look you see that it's Pooh dressed up in a Tigger costume to go trick or treating. Please, the kids will beg, and the moms will probably give in because the price isn't bad for a DVD plus stuffed animal toy--though they'll probably also be thinking that it's not something they'd care to watch with little Jenny or Johnny.

In the world of Disney animation there are full-length animated films that appeal to the entire family, made-for-TV films or direct-to-video sequels that don't seem to be made for anyone, and Winnie the Pooh films that are charming but plodding and only appealing to very young children.

Oh bother.

It's the characters themselves and the simplicity of their adventures that keep the Hundred Acre Wood films in the make-believe world of one year olds through six year olds. That's not bad, mind you--just a curious state, given that Disney managed to make a baby deer quite dear to adults as well as children, and "Bambi" was also based on a book written for children. Then again, A.A. Milne didn't kill off any characters' mothers, and the only thing these stuffed toys brought to life in the imagination of their owner, young Christopher Robin, is fear itself.

The fear this outing is Heffalumps. There have been footprints spotted and strange trumpeting sounds coming from deep in the area known as Heffalump Hollow. And so Rabbit, who is always the first to organize the peasants to go after whatever monster rears its imaginary head, rounds up everybody except Roo (too little) to try to capture the Heffalump that has been scaring them.

Heffalump, in Milne's world, means elephant, and it's baby Roo who finds one--and a baby one at that. "Lumpy" or "Lumpster" turns out to be a playful, ordinary little guy who speaks with a British accent. Meanwhile, the others are having a hard time finding their way back (the jellybean trail they left keeps disappearing, shades of "Hansel and Gretel"--and shame on you, Pooh!), much less finding a Heffalump. Then Tigger tells them about a mythical wish-granting Goboloon that can grant their wish for more candy and save Halloween. Though the palette is typically soft as water colors, the addition of Halloween costumes makes this adventure one which little children can easily connect with. Put the two plots together and there's also another mild lesson in misplaced fears, friendship, and accepting others who are different.

The usual voice-talent suspects return: Jim Cummings (Winnie the Pooh, Tigger), John Fiedler (Piglet), Nikita Hopkins (Roo), Kath Soucie (Kanga, Roo's mom), Ken Sansom (Rabbit), and Peter Cullen (Eeyore). And they're joined by Kyle Stanger (Lumpy) and Brenda Blethyn (Mama Heffalump). Carly Simon, who sang the songs for "Piglet's Big Movie" (2003), returns to perform several this outing too: "The Horribly Hazardous Heffalumps!", "Little Mr. Roo," "The Name Game," "Shoulder to Shoulder," and "In the Name of the Hundred Acre Wood/What Do You Do?"end song which finds Simon backed by a bunch of fifth grade schoolchildren performing as The Heffalump Chorus. The music is fine while you're listening to it, but aside from "Shoulder to Shoulder" none of them really stick with you for any length of time.

It's not all sweetness and light, though, and parents of sensitive young children might do well to watch with their youngster. Tigger sings a Halloween song that is accompanied by some images that could frighten little ones.

Given the Halloween theme, you'd expect a little more originality or vitality, but in this respect "Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie" is typical of the Pooh series. It always seems as if the filmmakers could have somehow infused a little more energy or charm into the production. And would it hurt to embed a few clever lines every now and then for the adults to savor? If your little one likes a film and you have to watch it with him/her over and over again, lines like that can feel like lifelines. But this one is once again strictly for the wee ones.

Video:
Production values are fine, the colors just a little more saturated than some of the other Pooh films that more closely resemble watercolors. Edge detail is pretty good for a DVD, and "Pooh's Heffalump Movie" is presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio, enhanced for 16x9 television monitors.

Audio:
Simon must have pushed for a quality audio, because the Dolby Digital 5.1 is a robust track that makes the music and characters come alive. It's a little front-heavy soundtrack, but some of the Hundred Acre Wood effects are filtered through the rear speakers. French and Spanish audio options are also included.

Extras:
The big bonus feature is the cuddly Pooh dressed as Tigger Beanz plush toy, but there are some other nice extras too. Three original games are included: In "Trick or Re-Treat," kids are asked to help Lumpy and Roo "save Halloween" by retracing their steps to try to find the dropped candy. It's a maze where the children move the mouse (if playing on a computer) and a little icon of Lumpy follows wherever the mouse is dragged. When you get to the end of the maze you click and move on to the next level, which is a move the cursor to different objects and highlight them to see what's behind. The third level plays like the first, only it's a "creepy cave" with tunnels. Then comes a "slimy slide," with another behind-the-object screen. It's a nice single-player game for the age group.

"Pass the Pumpkin" is a group game that coaxes children to literally sit in a circle and pass a small pumpkin. It's that familiar version of musical chairs that's really pretty unnecessary.

"Pooh's Boo Bingo" is another group game, and this one makes more sense to have a TV version. First, you need to print out Pooh Bingo cards, then a pumpkin with bouncing balls tosses out the different numbers.

"Heffalump Party Planner" is for moms and dads, with "parents' instructions and party printables, which include party invitations, Halloween recipes, the bingo cards, and a "decorate your own jaggedy lantern" craft activity. It's actually a nice little bundle for parents who want a Halloween play date for their children and friends. And you don't even have to look for a movie to keep them entertained at party's end or finish. It comes with the plush animal!

Bottom Line:
Winnie the Pooh films appeal mostly to children ages 1-6, but I wouldn't put it past a few seven or eight year olds to beg their parents to buy them this "treat," simply because of the cute little Pooh-as-Tigger plush Beanz toy that comes with it.