This live-action adaptation of Bambi, a Life in the Woods, the original novel by Felix Salten, is not in the mould of Disney’s heavily augmented and even nightmarish CGI “live action”, but more like a nature documentary with a voiceover. It’s not dissimilar to those sentimental anthropomorphic shows that add narrative to footage of deer and rabbits. The story begins moments after Bambi’s birth, and he is adorable – all knock-kneed charm and massive eyes.
The production wisely eschews the intricacies of dialogue, so the players express themselves much as silent actors. They get particular mileage out of a very knowing crow: its limited appearances recall the scene-stealing performances of a Judi Dench or Maggie Smith. A rabbit seems a little at sea in a key secondary role that requires more chemistry. Thumper’s shadow from the 1942 Disney cartoon is long. I suspect this rabbit was cast for looks, not acting chops.
