Bears Yogi and Boo-Boo spend their days attempting to steal pic-a-nic baskets from Jellystone Park’s unsuspecting visitors, to the perpetual annoyance of Ranger Smith. But the enemies have to join forces when a corrupt mayor decides to close the failing park for his own power crazy ends. Will this unlikely team be able to save the day?
There are many things wrong with Yogi Bear, the big screen version of the vintage Hanna-Barbera cartoon. The basic idea simply doesn't work in a live action setting, Yogi and Boo-Boo just look odd in the real world. Also the movie appears to be edited around the inability of the actors to interact convincingly with the CG characters. But the biggest problem is the plot, how on earth can Jellystone Park be losing money? It’s home to not one but two talking bears for god’s sake. If anything it should be not only making a fortune but also world famous. Older audiences will no doubt be contemplating this point as their minds wander, such is the lack of enjoyment offered by Eric Brevig’s film.
Simply put Yogi Bear is a totally unnecessary movie that drags along from one uninspired slapstick routine to another. Furthermore its attempts to reach a modern audience are totally misjudged; at one point Yogi does an ‘hilarious’ dance routine to a hip hop song from 1992. Oh well, maybe undemanding kids will enjoy this and their unfortunate parents will be distracted by the accidental relevance of the film, its UK release coinciding with the Government’s backtrack on plans to sell off woodland owned by the Forestry Commission. The machinations of a talking pratfalling bear thankfully unnecessary.