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Disney's 'Pooh' not much of a movie, but a cute toy

By ELEANOR RINGEL GILLESPIE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Oh, bother.

Apparently the Disney folks don't even bother with A.A. Milne anymore. They just borrow his characters and do with them what they will -- which mostly means cramming toy stores with plush Poohs, Piglets and Eeyores.

Walt Disney Pictures 'Pooh's Heffalump Movie' C+ The verdict: Too much Disney, too little Pooh. Director: Frank Nissen Starring: Voices by Jim Cummings, Brenda Blethyn Run time: 68 minutes Release date: Feb. 11, 2005 Rating: G See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer   -- Trailers require Quicktime Rate "Pooh's Heffalump Movie":   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

The whole point of Milne's tale of the Heffalump is, there is no such thing as a Heffalump. Not so in the otherwise pleasantly innocuous "Pooh's Heffalump Move," in which Pooh and his pals, led by the hare-brained Rabbit, venture into nearby Heffalump Hollow in hopes of catching one of the fearsome creatures.

Deemed too young to go, Baby Roo bounces off on his own and befriends Lumpy, a Heffalump just about his age who turns out to be a giggly pink-and-purple pachyderm with a bunny-rabbit tail and shell-shaped ears.

The film offers a family-friendly message about tolerance and not being afraid of someone just because they're different from you. The Carly Simon tunes are appealing, especially a lullaby sung by Kanga, and there are some amusing throwaways, such as learning that Rabbit sleeps with his ears in rollers. But calling this a movie about Pooh and a Heffalump makes about as much sense as making a film about Peter Pan and leaving out the part about never growing up.

However, Lumpy would make a precious stuffed animal. And I'm sure you'll be seeing him soon at a Toys 'R' Us near you.