Dir. Eric Brevig, USA , 2010, 80 mins
Cast. Anna Faris, Tom Cavanagh, T. J. Miller, voices of Dan Aykroyd and Justin Timberlake
Review by Michelle Moore
Anyone above the age of about 25 will be likely to remember the days when they would come home from school and park themselves in front of the television to watch the latest adventures of Yogi Bear and his friend Booboo. Skip forward a decade or two and a live-action film adaptation of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series has been created about this comical bear and his shy companion, which will introduce these lovable characters to a new generation.
In this 3D live action adventure Yogi Bear and Booboo are living in Jellystone Park, stealing picnic baskets from the visiting public and trying to evade capture by Ranger Smith (Cavanagh) and his second in command Ranger Jones (Miller). However when the future of the park is in trouble, Yogi stops at nothing to protect his home with hilarious results.
Over the last few years there has been a plethora of 3D movies, many of which have been aimed at children. The majority of them have absolutely no need of 3D effects. But there is an occasional film which is enhanced by the 3D experience and Yogi Bear is one of them. There are many aspects of the narrative and action where the audience’s enjoyment is increased because of the 3D technology: the simple flicking of an elastic band towards the camera, causing everyone in the cinema to blink in unison; the water splashing from a lake; a frog mouthed turtle floating in front of you in mid air as it sails down stream and the squirming of an insect from the nose of a bear.
Yogi is a colourful and unique character not just because he is a talking, walking two foot bear in a tie and hat, but because no matter how hard he tries not to do something ridiculously hilarious he cannot help but do it. From a picnic-stealing contraption back firing and Yogi receiving a pie in the face to his ‘big buts’ dance, his general personality and character are expressed through these comic setups.
The way the computer generated characters of Yogi and Booboo have been placed within the live action scenes is flawless. If Alvin and the Chipmunks or Scooby Doo had you believing that the animals were actually part of the scene, then wait until you see these two life-like bears interacting with the park rangers and documentary filmmaker Rachel (Faris).
Although voiced by the likes of Dan Aykroyd (Yogi) and Justin Timberlake (Booboo), the actors’ voices still connect with viewers’ expectations from the television show. They are spot on, ideal for the characters’ personae, unique and unrecognisable. The lovable bears are supported by Anna Faris, one of the funniest women you could ask for and Cavanagh, whom you may recognise as Dan Dorian, JD’s brother in Scrubs. Both play their parts well, making the line between live action and computer generated characters impossible to find.
This movie is the perfect introduction to Yogi Bear for anyone unfamiliar with the character. Lovable, comical and the finest talking bear in the world at the moment.
