Margot Robbie (left), Will Tilston, Domhnall Gleeson and Richard Clifford star in “Goodbye Christopher Robin.” (David Appleby/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation)

Margot Robbie (left), Will Tilston, Domhnall Gleeson and Richard Clifford star in “Goodbye Christopher Robin.” (David Appleby/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation)

‘Goodbye Christopher Robin’ shows the damage done by Winnie-the-Pooh

The gentle movie tells a serious story about how celebrity culture harmed a family.

Over the years the rights to Winnie-the-Pooh have been acquired by Disney, so the muscle of the world’s savviest media corporation stands behind the winsome cartoon bear.

If that doesn’t seem like a mismatch, it will after you see “Goodbye Christopher Robin,” a British film about the origins of Pooh. This gentle movie examines what happens when a cartoon character becomes a media phenomenon.

We begin with author A.A. Milne, played by Domhnall Gleeson (the ubiquitous star of “Ex Machina” and “The Revenant”). Recovering from shellshock after World War I, and retreating with his puzzled, impatient wife Daphne (Margot Robbie) to a country estate, Milne searches for a subject to write about.

He really wants to write a book about world peace, but in rare playdates with his son Billy (Will Tilston), Milne and the boy invent a whimsical world. They’re inspired by Billy’s stuffed animals: a bear, a donkey, a piglet, a tigger — I mean, tiger.

Milne writes a story to go along with these characters. He uses his son’s birth name, Christopher Robin, for the name of the child in the stories, a decision that will cause unexpected headaches when the Winnie-the-Pooh tales become wildly popular overnight.

Everybody wants to know who the “real” Christopher Robin is, and the film becomes a case study in celebrity — and the negative effects of something simple becoming too loved.

“Goodbye Christopher Robin” is not a feel-good tale, although director Simon Curtis lays on the reassuring British period trappings. There are scenes that draw blood, like the moment young Billy wonders why his father — traveling to promote the books — can’t call him without putting the conversation out on live radio.

Gleeson nicely balances aloofness and tender-heartedness, although Robbie (rather a world away from her “Suicide Squad” persona here) has a more shrewish part to play. Grounding the movie is Kelly Macdonald, whose nanny sees the damage being done to the Milne family, but can’t speak up about it.

Two writers, Frank Cottrell Boyce and Simon Vaughn, maintain the serious approach to this tale of innocence lost. They’re keen on showing how the Winnie-the-Pooh craze predicted the rise of media madness in the century to come, but they also get in digs at the British class system and stiff-upper-lip decorum.

In its admirably modest way, this is a thoughtful film — more Pooh than Disney in its style, and a useful reminder of a bear’s humble origins.

“Goodbye Christopher Robin” (3 stars)

A thoughtful account of the birth of Winnie-the-Pooh, as author A.A. Milne (Domhnall Gleeson) creates a media phenomenon from the stuffed-animal friends of his son (Will Tilston). The movie doesn’t shy away from the negative effects that celebrity had on the Milne family, which were serious. With Margot Robbie.

Rating: PG, for subject matter

Showing: Alderwood Mall, Sundance Cinemas, Meridian

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Arlo Frostad, 7, and his twin brother Harrison Frostad, walk through the fields of Roozengaarde outside of Mount Vernon, Washington during the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival on April 10, 2025. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Stop and smell the flowers at Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

The largest tulip festival in North America features five gardens and runs through April.

Grayson Bed and Breakfast (Photo courtesy of HD Estates and Grayson Bed and Breakfast)
The Grayson Bed and Breakfast: Where strangers become friends

A cozy retreat with scenic views and pet-friendly amenities just two miles from downtown Monroe.

Image from Prince Life Photography website.
Light, lens & love: These photographers bring the magic

Want to see who’s turning everyday moments into jaw-dropping memories? Let’s find out.

Small SUV Provides Big Time Value. Photo Provided by Chevrolet Newsroom
2025 Chevy Trax Activ Delivers Beyond Expectations

Sub-Compact SUV Surprises With Value And Features

Hai Viet Hong, center, performs with the Huong Viet Performing Arts Group during The Wendt Mayor’s Arts Awards on Thursday, April 10 in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Everett artists celebrated with The Wendt Mayor’s Arts Awards

Award recipients included a former City Council member and the former publisher of My Everett News.

2025 Honda Civic Si sport-compact sedan (Provided by Honda).
2025 Honda Civic Si could be the darling of young drivers

Bold styling, fun-to-drive performance and reasonable pricing are part of the appeal.

The Tulalip Resort Casino. (Sue Misao / The Herald)
Check in, chill out, and wake up to comfort

These top Snohomish County stays are serving up relaxation, charm, and a touch of luxury

The 2025 Ford F-150 full-size pickup, in the XLT trim (Provided by Ford).
2025 Ford F-150 can do hard work but still be comfortable

The multifaceted popular pickup meets the needs of many different buyers.

Q4 55 e-tron quattro photo provided by Audi Media Center
2025 Audi Q4 55 e-tron SUV Makes Driving Electric Easier Than Ever

Upgrades Include Enhanced Power, Range, And Quicker Charging

Trailhunter photo provided by Toyota Newsroom
2025 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter Designed For Off-Road

New Standard Equipment Adds Even More Functionality

The 2025 Infiniti QX80 full-size luxury SUV (Provided by Infiniti).
2025 Infiniti QX80 is a complete remodel

The full-size luxury SUV has fresh styling, advanced technology and a new twin-turbo V6 engine.

Employees and patrons of the Everett Mall signed a timeline mural that traces the history of the 51-year-old indoor mall that was once considered the premier place to go shopping in the city. Thursday, March 20, 2025 (Aaron Kennedy / The Herald)
Mall mural offers nostalgic trip into the past

Past and present Everett Mall employees joined customers Thursday to view an artistic timeline of the once popular shopping mecca.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.