Rashid Irani's review: Yogi Bear
Rashid Irani, Hindustan Times April 22, 2011
First Published: 23:09 IST(22/4/2011)
Last Updated: 12:05 IST(23/4/2011)
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Grin and bear it?
Yogi Bear
Director: Eric Brevig
Voices: Dan Aykroyd, Justin Timberlake
Rating: 1-1/2
The adored 1960s animated television series by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera — creators also of that other decades-old
cartoon favourite, The Flintstones — once again makes the big-screen leap in this adaptation that fuses live-action and CGI-rendered critters. Sorry to say, the outcome isn’t even fitfully interesting.
Opting for the lowest common denominator, Yogi Bear is a mishmash of lame jokes, poorly staged action scenes and shrill shenanigans.
The less-than-beguiling plot revolves around the antics of the picnic-basket-swiping brown bear (dubbed by Aykroyd) and his diminutive sidekick (expressively voiced by pop star-turned –actor Timberlake).
When their woodland park home is under threat from an unscrupulous politician, the bears join forces with their genial human adversary (Tom Cavanagh, vapid) to save their habitat. Rather surprisingly, the film devotes an inordinate amount of time to the human characters including an attractive nature documentarian (Anna Faris). Worse, director Brevig, who previously helmed the Journey to the Centre of the Earth remake, awkwardly attempts to impart an eco-friendly message. With its compact running time of 80 minutes, Yogi Bear may appeal to the targeted very young audience. The rest may find it un-bear-able.
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