A number of direct-to-video features have been made with Disney’s Winnie The Pooh, and Springtime With Roo falls right in the middle of the release line-up. Starting with 1997’s The Search For Christopher Robin there have been a number of releases, some longer form, some shorter, resulting in more of a compilation of television episodes than an actual movie. Springtime With Roo falls in the former category, though clocking in at just over an hour of running time. One has to wonder why it wasn’t paired up with another release so as to not waste disc space.
Initially released on DVD in 2004, we now get the a release on Blu-ray and it’s the same movie, but the special features are different. Previously the DVD included a look at the then upcoming direct-to-DVD movie The Heffalump Movie (little more than an extended trailer) as well as a couple of interactive game type features. These have all been replaced by a dance-along featurette of songs from the movie. But this doesn’t actually show kids how to do the moves, and there are some that most kids simply won’t be able to do (like flips). It’s thankfully just a couple minutes.
Oh, the actual movie itself? Well, it’s a version of A Christmas Carol, except it is focused on Easter. Rabbit sort of replaces the usual spring celebration with Spring Cleaning Day and of course gets upset with everybody doesn’t do things his way. Guess who is the Scrooge in this story. Of course with Easter possibly ruined it is up to the gang to set Rabbit straight and… you get the idea.
I’ve sat with this video for 10 years watching it a couple of times and having it play in the background as my kids watched it several more. The more time has passed, the more torn I am between whether or not this is a brilliant piece of storytelling or simply a wasted opportunity with these beloved characters.
It is interesting in this story the narrator is less of an outside observer and a full-on participant. Rather than come up with clever storytelling mechanics the narrator acts as a Deus ex machina actively participating in events. I think this was done as a device to help move the story along and get that running time down as well as perhaps eliminate the need to include Owl and Gopher in the events here. Actually, Gopher would have been a perfect addition to this story, as I can imagine a great 5 or 10 minute sequence about Groundhog Day and how it means spring may or may not be around the corner.
Alright, so Springtime With Roo may not be a high mark in Disney’s Winnie The Pooh catalog, but it’s enjoyable enough if you’re a fan of the lovable bear stuffed with fluff. It’s just a shame the Blu-ray isn’t quite worth the retail price.