Complete A-Z list


Yogi Bear (3D)

6/10

Stars: Anna Faris, Tom Kavanagh, T J Miller, Andrew Daly. Voices: Dan Aykroyd, Justin Timberlake

Director: Eric Brevig

'Smarter than the average bear!' was always Yogi's cry in his prime TV days, but, though still smart at stealing 'pic-a-nic' baskets, Yogi and his small friend Boo Boo (voices of Aykroyd and Timberlake) get Ranger Smith (Kavanagh) into a whole heap of trouble when the smarmy local mayor (Daly) decides to close down their home - the legendary Jellystone Park - and build on it.

Although there are inevitably toilet jokes not in the original 1960s' cult show, this is a surprisingly tolerable account of the adventures of Yogi and Boo Boo (both CGI-animated; the rest is live-action) as they foul up every attempt by Smith - smitten with local geologist Rachel (Faris) - to keep the park going.

A centennial celebration, for example, is going great guns until Yogi, egged on by the treacherous Ranger Jones (Miller), in the pay of the bad guys, decides to demonstrate his water-skiing prowess and, after a good beginning, crashes to set off the celebratory fireworks in the direction of the up-to-then happy campers.

There's not quite enough of Yogi's capers in this 3D makeover, but kids will sit happily through most of it. Preceded by a funny - although not as side-splitting as in the days of yore - Road Runner/Wile E Coyote cartoon called Rabid Racer, also in 3D.

David Quinlan

USA 2010. UK Distributor: Warner Brothers. Technicolor.
80 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: U.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 07 Feb 2011