Playwright A. A. Milne (Gleeson) returns from World War I still haunted by what he has seen. His wife Daphne (Robbie) soon gives birth to a son named Christopher Robin (Will Tilston, later Alex Lawther) and the family decides to move to the countryside along with C. R.’s nanny, Olive (Macdonald). Though the pair initially have a distant relationship, A. A. Milne starts to grow closer with his son after playing with him and his toys – Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore. The stuffed animals become the inspiration for the writer’s new work…
Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson seems to be in just about everything these days. Aside from Goodbye Christopher Robin, his credits this year include roles in Mother!, American Made, Catastrophe and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Mind you, we don’t see him take top billing all that often, and as if we didn’t know already from the likes of About Time and Ex Machina, Gleeson makes an excellent lead. As A. A. Milne, he’s fantastic, delivering a moving performance that deserves particular praise for his effective evocation of the character’s shell shock. While Margot Robbie and Kelly Macdonald also give commendable performances, the film truly belongs to Gleeson and young actor Will Tilston, a newcomer whose portrayal of C. R. is pure, infectious joy.
While Goodbye Christopher Robin would seem to be a straightforward biopic, what makes the film so much more meaningful is its many other layers. At its heart is a story about a father and son’s developing relationship, but the film also examines some more complex themes such as the effects of war, the challenges of marriage, how one inspires creativity, and the incongruous nature of childhood celebrity.
Also of interest here, as something which brings to mind Hollywood classics like Brief Encounter, is its exploration of the damaging nature of emotional repression, particularly in relation to English identity. A. A. (among others who we meet as the film progresses) is trapped by his inability to explain the trauma and psychological damage the war has had on him; Daphne insists the family remain dignified and detached with ‘no blubbing’ in the house, a restriction she herself suffers by; and the distance between the parents and child because it’s really the nanny who is raising him.
In spite of the happiness associated with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – which continues to the present with Disney’s hold on the property – Goodbye Christopher Robin shows that the true story behind the book’s legacy is complicated, with disappointment, frustration and regret plaguing the aftermath of its publication. As A. A. contemplates, “Who would’ve guessed the bear would swallow us up?” Goodbye Christopher Robin is beautifully and sweetly recounted while never being overly sentimental because of its emphasis on real people with palpable challenges to overcome. An excellent and spellbinding watch which leaves you with a warm feeling, like honey in your tummy.