Sometimes people forget that it is okay for a film to just be fun and not a work of art. If you go to see Yogi Bear and just expect a ‘fun film’, you won’t be disappointed. Sure the storyline is aimed for kids, but that is the best thing about this film – it’s full of things for kids, including some very important morals.
Ranger Smith (Tom Cavanagh – Edgar Floats, Christmas Dreams) has loved Jellystone National Park his whole life. And now he is Head Ranger, a job that sees him training the eager, Ranger Jones (T.J. Miller – Gulliver’s Travels, Unstoppable) and has him trying to stop the ‘smarter than the average bear’, Yogi (Dan Aykroyd – Presidential Reunion, TV’S Family Guy) and his sidekick, Boo Boo (Justin Timberlake – The Social Network, The Open Road) stealing lunches from the Park’s visitors. Normally, it’s a quiet job, but then documentary filmmaker, Rachel (Anna Faris – Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs) shows up and quickly wins Smith’s heart, and then the greedy Mayor Brown (Andrew Daly – Jason Nash Is Married, TV’S Eastbound & Down) decides he wants to log the park. Now it looks like Smith will have to team up with Yogi to save the day.
It is obvious that Yogi Bear is a film for the kids. The screenwriters have tried to include a romance for the adults, but it really fails to suck the audience in. You do care about Ranger Smith but it wouldn’t exactly break your heart if he didn’t end up with Rachel. They have also made the ‘bad guys’ your typical clichés… not that that stops you wanting them to fail, and for the most part the film is simply Yogi and Boo Boo going from one mad idea to the next. But where the screenwriters have hit the nail on the head with this film, is the way they get their message across. The anti-logging and take-care-of-nature message shines through strongly… and that is certainly a message that is important for the kids to learn. The other big tick for Yogi Bear is it is a lot better than Furry Vengeance that tried woefully to get that message across.
Director, Eric Brevig (Journey To The Center Of The Earth, TV’S Xena) wasn’t exactly given a masterpiece script to work with, but he does a more than adequate job at bringing the film to the screen… and making it entertaining. Combining digitally added animals and humans together isn’t easy, and Brevig doesn’t slip up once… even the CG work looks good, although some would say it’s wasted on a kid’s film.
The big find with Yogi Bear is actor, Tom Cavanagh. He does everything he is asked to, and seems to have a firm hand on the role of Ranger Smith. He wins the audience over easily and seems to outshine seasoned veterans like Brendan Fraser in the comedy stakes. He is a joy to watch here, and I can only hope to see him get some better roles over the years.
There may not be much for adults in Yogi Bear, but they clearly aren’t the film’s target audience. Kids on the other hand will lap this film up, its funny dialogue and slapstick comedy works a treat… and what do you know? They may learn a valuable lesson along the way. Don’t expect to laugh much yourself, but your kids will be in stitches.
