I don't make a habit out of sharing my private life in my review writing, but to set the stage a bit, I thought I would offer up this tiny morsel; As a kid, I had a strained relationship with my father. Having said that, it wasn't all bad times. And in fact, I have fond memories of my dad reading me pages from The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (published in 1957). I adored those stories as a kid and I questioned whether the innocence and charm of that book and those old Disney cartoons could be re-conjured. Happily, this new take on Winnie the Pooh does in fact capture the magic of the source material. In this simple, pure, and all together charming tale, Pooh Bear and friends (including Eeyore, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Tigger, and--of course--Christopher Robin) find themselves thrust into various predicaments, none bigger than one involving a mythical creature known as the "Backson." What can I say? Winnie the Pooh is positively adorable. The writing is quite clever and the fashion in which the characters sporadically converse with the narrator is very creative. I also admired that Disney went back to its roots and opted to do this wonderful film in traditional hand drawn animation. With spot on vocal work, terrific writing, and complimentary songs by Zooey Deschanel, Winnie the Pooh emerges as one of the big surprises of the summer. It's an absolute shame that Pooh has made far less money than the inferior Cars 2. Take your entire family to see this magical film. And be sure to sit through the credits. There's a hilarious surprise at the very end.