GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN
A beautifully made, sober family story for older children and adults.
Should You Watch It?
GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN is a well-made drama about the birth of the Winnie the Pooh books and the family relationships behind them. Young Will Tilston gives an excellent performance as Christopher Robin, and the period costuming and production design are accurate.
The film’s strongest element is its positive Christian character, Olive, who cares for Christopher Robin and becomes a spiritual guide for him. The story also includes prayer, forgiveness and references to the Cross. But the movie is not especially uplifting, and its several plotlines about war, difficult parenting, fame and unhappiness can feel depressing.
If your family includes older children who can handle those themes, this is worth considering. For younger children, choose something lighter.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESA.A. Milne returns from World War I carrying the trauma of his experiences and struggles to write. Hoping for quiet, he moves with his wife, Daphne, and their son, Christopher Robin, to the countryside.
Christopher grows close to his kind nanny, Olive. When circumstances bring father and son together, they explore the woods, imagine a world for Christopher’s stuffed animals and begin creating the stories that will become Winnie the Pooh.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is a good, well-made film with notable strengths but meaningful limitations. Will Tilston gives an excellent performance as Christopher Robin, and the period setting is convincingly rendered through the costuming and production design.
The film’s weakness is that it lacks the heartfelt moments found in some similar movies. Multiple plotlines compete for attention, including war, a troubled mother figure, growing up famous and other subplots. Those threads distract from the basic story.
The Worldview
The film has a mixed worldview. Its most positive character is Olive, a devout Christian nanny who serves as a spiritual guide for Christopher Robin. The story includes prayer, forgiveness and references to the Cross.
The family, however, is portrayed as dysfunctional. The parents leave their son at home for extended periods, except when Christopher Robin is helping make money through the book’s press tour or when his father is writing. The movie ultimately forgives this failure, but it still presents a negative picture of motherhood and parenting.
The film also suggests that success can ultimately lead to unhappiness. That theme may feel overdone to some viewers, but it gives the story a sober view of fame. The movie’s central longing is for a loving bond between parent and child. Scripture says, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me” (Matthew 18:5).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong moral worldview where father establishes a strong bond with his son through storytelling, with a very positive Christian character, prayers said at night and before eating, forgiveness, and references to the Cross, but with a dysfunctional family portrayed showing parents need to be present for their children to grow up; two light obscenities; war violence and traumatic war PTSD, women in labor and screaming; no sexual content; no nudity; light drinking; no smoking nor drug use; and, nothing else objectionable.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Olive cares for Christopher Robin with patience and faith. What does it look like to guide a child spiritually through everyday life?
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 · Psalm 78:4–7The story shows how a child can be affected when parents are absent. What responsibilities do parents have toward their children, and how can families practice presence?
Ephesians 6:4 · Colossians 3:21The movie connects success and fame with unhappiness. What kind of success does Scripture call lasting and good?
Mark 8:36 · 1 Timothy 6:6–8Olive’s Christian faith shapes her care for Christopher Robin. How can forgiveness and love change a family’s relationships?
Ephesians 4:31–32 · Colossians 3:12–14The Final Word
GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN is a well-made, thoughtful drama with a moving Christian character and an excellent young performance. Its war trauma, family dysfunction and sobering themes make it better suited to older children and adults. For them, it is WORTH THE TRIP — OLDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS. For younger viewers, choose something gentler.
