Winnie the Pooh

Right now you can watch Winnie the Pooh in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 973 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Watch it for Jim Cummings — stay for everyone else around them. Put it on tonight on Disney Plus and see for yourself.

Winnie the Pooh is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Winnie the Pooh from the crowd. During an ordinary day in Hundred Acre Wood, Winnie the Pooh sets out to find some honey. Misinterpreting a note from Christopher Robin, Owl convinces Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Kanga, Roo, and Eeyore that their young friend has been captured by a creature named "Backson" and they set out to rescue him. The chemistry Jim Cummings and Bud Luckey bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. Winnie the Pooh came out in 2011. Winnie the Pooh earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Winnie the Pooh respects your intelligence. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Jim Cummings is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.