Ryan Reynolds is ringing in the new year with a Winnie-The-Pooh parody that takes full advantage of the honey-loving bear’s recent journey into the public domain. That’s right, folks. If you’ve been holding onto a sweet Winnie-The-Pooh story, but haven’t moved on it out of fear that Disney will come knocking on your door, now is the time to act. For those unfamiliar with Public Domain Day, it’s a day when works of art that were previously protected by copyright law enter the public domain. In other words, get ready for lots of school plays and off-Broadway interpretations of Pooh and his friends of the Hundred Acre Wood.
Published in 1926 by author A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh was published 95 years ago, meaning that it is now a part of the public domain as of January 1, 2022. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Ryan Reynolds and his team at Mint Mobile have constructed a Winnie-The-Pooh parody titled Winnie-The-Screwed, which follows the titular character through the harsh reality of receiving an outrageous phone bill. After all, most phone companies don’t accept honey as payment, so what’s a bear to do?
Gather ’round, kids. It’s storytime! You can watch Reynolds narrating the parody book below:
In addition to changing elements of Milne’s classic story, Mint Mobile’s Winnie-The-Pooh parody features clever takes on illustrations by E. H. Shepard, found in Milne’s classic collection of short stories. The video features Reynolds’ signature charm as he narrates Winnie-The-Screwed’s relatable story about being bent over by his utility provider. It’s a tale as old as time, and Mint Mobile wants to help you avoid making unnecessary trips to your honey pot in search of that delicious viscous substance that goes great with tea or peanut butter. What? Are you trying to tell me that you don’t drizzle honey on your peanut butter? Oh wow! Well, there’s no better time than the start of a new year to try something different, eh? Give it a shot. I promise that you don’t regret it.
How do you like Ryan Reynolds’ Winnie-the-Pooh pardoy?