Rating: G
Release Date: 13 January 2011
Running Time: 82 minutes
For general release, also available in 2D check cinema guide for session times and locations
Jellystone Park is under threat of being closed down by Mayor Brown (Andrew Daley), forcing head Ranger Smith(Tom Cavanagh) to organise a fundraising celebration to coincide with the park’s 100th birthday anniversary. Ranger Smith joins forces with documentary filmmaker Rachel (Anna Faris) who is making a film on talking bears, Yogi (voice Dan Aykroyd) and Boo Boo (voice Justin Timberlake). Will “smarter than your average bear” Yogi help or hinder their mission or will Mayor Brown’s Chief of Staff (Nate Corddry) and the hapless Ranger Jones (TJ Miller) thwart their attempts.
This revamp of the 1960’s Hanna Barbera’s TV comic into a movie feature stays faithful to the original Yogi Bear character with his picnic basket kleptomania and good wholesome family values (other than endorsing stealing). However it just seems a tad dated, seriously talking bears wearing ties in 2011? The screenplay by writers Brad Copeland, Joshua Sternin and Jeffrey Ventimilia is unfunny, boring and insipid. It’s a simple plot and sure its aimed at the younger kiddies but unless they are under five, there is not much appeal in over the top baddies and goofy hereos.
Directed by Eric Brevig (Journey to the Centre of the Earth 2008) this mixed live action with animation all wrapped up and presented in the 3D format is ridiculous. Visually it has the cheesy cringe factor and Tom Cavanagh (Scrubs TV series) looks positively mortified in every scene as if he cant believe he is actually saying all this inane dialogue. Anna Faris manages to pull off a slightly better performance with perfected skill in delivering corny line developed from the Scary Movie franchise. The only good thing about this film is the surprisingly authentic sounding voiceovers from Aykroyd (Ghostbusters) and Timberlake (The Social Network). Apparently Timberlake use to imitate their voices as a child.
Warning for adults unlike many other animation films which nicely bridge the entertainment value gap between children and adults, here you will be bored by this. Luckily the pain will be short and sweet at 82 minutes though preceeding the film is a new 3D short with Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner titled “Rabid Rider” which is best part of the Yogi Bear cinema experience!
2/5 stars
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