What Do The Critics Say?

"There’s something to appreciate in the simplicity. Where many of its contemporaries might try to layer in complicated narrative arcs or, on the flipside, go for the easy gross-out humor, Yogi Bear stays focused on its single narrative goal: Yogi and Boo-Boo must first destroy everything, then come back and save the day. It has clearly been created in earnest with a good deal of affection for the source material. The Yogi cartoons were silly, and the movie matches said silliness." Neil Miller FILM SCHOOL REJECTS "Yogi Bear is another classic cartoon turned live-action film, suitably cheerful and colourful, if a little light on imagination. The quality of the 3D is excellent, having been conceived and filmed in the format. I found the movie quite flat and uninteresting but then, I'm a grown-up." Andrew Hedley FLICKS NZ "This is a cute movie, a kid's movie, and a rather good one. The computer-generated bears are adorable. It's come to this: Computer creations can be adorable; and the movie packs a lot of amusing incidents into a nice, trim package. Adults with children, who are used to getting bored out of their skulls with children's fare, may find in this a refreshing and politically charged change of pace." Mick LaSalle SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE "Those who grew up with the original Hanna-Barbera cartoon probably doubt Yogi Bear is worth a whole feature film, let alone one in 3-D. And you'd probably be right. But compared to some kid flicks, "Yogi Bear" is rather sweet. 'Yogi Bear' adds dimension to the average bear. At less than 90 minutes, it's not difficult to sit through, for either kids or their parents." Sue Pierman MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL "I went into "Yogi Bear" with a fresh eye: and with two other pairs of eyes; my two oldest sons. I gave it a shot. I was not disappointed. The voice cast of Dan Aykroyd and Justin Timberlake is actually quite good. I liked "Yogi Bear". It's not without its faults, but this is refreshingly faithful to the original cartoons." Kevin Carr 7M MOVIES

"The digital animation is so detailed that in close-up it's possible to assess the stitching on Boo-Boo's bow tie: director Eric Brevig is a 3D specialist; skilled at using the format to stage deep-focus sight gags. During an early dialogue exchange in Ranger Smith's cabin, Yogi is visible through a distant window trying to climb on to the roof. Brevig resists the temptation to take the camera outside - and from that moment on, you know you're in good hands." Jake Wilson THE AGE "The best that can be said about "Yogi Bear" is that it's a "cute" and "harmless" kids movie. Benefits from fine digital effects. In the tradition of the "Alvin and the Chipmunks" movies, Yogi and his sidekick, Boo Boo, are computer-animated characters in a live-action world and the amusing voice characterizations of Dan Aykroyd as Yogi and Justin Timberlake as the nasally Boo Boo." John Beifuss COMMERCIAL APPEAL "Yogi Bear, like many of Hanna-Barbera characters, exudes a goofy, good-natured, slightly dopey demeanour, and director Eric Brevig (Journey To The Center Of The Earth) has done his best to maintain that gentle spirit for the film, largely avoiding the sort of obnoxiously hip tone many kids’ movies exhibit to seem relevant to a new generation." Tim Grierson SCREEN INTERNATIONAL "Those of us who grew up on Yogi Bear cartoons can breathe easy: In his new movie: featuring a 3-D computer-animated Yogi (voiced by Dan Aykroyd) and Boo Boo (voiced by Justin Timberlake) alongside live action actors; our beloved pic-a-nic thief isn't asked to whore himself by rapping, farting, or dropping pop culture references the way some of his animated brethren have in recent years." Adam Markovitz ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY "Kudos to director Eric Brevig and his team of digital animation artists for a rendering of Yogi that, for all its wonderful detail, remains faithful to the lovable cartoon bear of yore. As with all the best kids films aimed squarely at winning over a new generation of parent-nagging merchandise buyers, it's full of comic action and doesn't over-stay its welcome." Jim Schembri THE AGE

The Inside Story For people the world over, the name Yogi Bear sparks the distinctive image of a certain pear-shaped gourmand in a jaunty hat and tie—a lovably larcenous pie-eating rebel who believed he was smarter than the average bear, and whose outrageous antics put Jellystone Park on the cartoon map of the world. Speaking with affection about the star of his new film, director Eric Brevig says, "I‘ve always loved Yogi. He does things his own way. He means well, but he just can‘t stop listening to his stomach, and those impulses that tell him if he grabs a pie off that table fast enough maybe he‘ll get away with it. He‘s like a big kid, and I think he represents that part of all of us. He may be a bear, but so much of what he does is pure human nature." "People smile when they think of Yogi," says Donald De Line, who, with Karen Rosenfelt, produced Yogi Bear, the beloved bruin's biggest big-screen adventure. "He'‘s such a timeless character. I can hear his voice in my head the instant I think of him." "The original cartoon was written as much for adults as for children to enjoy, and I‘m happy to continue that with a big, fun, family film I believe parents will be able to share with their kids and feel that there‘s something there for them, too," Brevig adds. "Yogi Bear" updates the classic property by respecting those elements that make it timeless: the personalities, irreverent humor and Yogi‘s endless conflict with authority; while introducing a contemporary tone and storyline. "We took care to avoid things that would identify a time period," Brevig states. "There‘s modern clothing and cars, but you won‘t see Yogi using any electronic devices that would date it. I think kids meeting Yogi for the first time will just see him as an awesome, crazy bear who builds airplanes out of campsite junk, while others can reconnect with characters they know and love." The multi-generational appeal of this 'larger than life' wiseacre and his easygoing bow-tied sidekick, Boo Boo, was brought home to the filmmakers in a big way by the two actors who offered their remarkable vocal talents for the pair: Dan Aykroyd, the booming baritone voice of Yogi, and Justin Timberlake, with his spot-on characterization of Boo Boo. Aykroyd fondly recalls his introduction to the character. "Every Wednesday afternoon, after school, my joy was to sit and watch Yogi Bear. Of all the cartoon characters, he was the most accessible: the warmest and the happiest. He was also a bit of an outlaw, which I liked. His friendship with Boo Boo was perfect, not a trace of meanness in either of them, and I think that‘s why kids of Justin‘s generation, and now, still embrace them." Echoing that experience, Timberlake ("The Social Network") says, "Back when I was in school, I‘d procrastinate doing my homework by watching cartoons, and Yogi Bear was one of the staples of after-school television and Saturday mornings. Later, I found out that my parents grew up with it, too. Watching it makes me feel like a kid again." Yogi and Boo Boo exist as fully animated CG characters and interact with a human cast in the largely live-action movie. The intention, Brevig offers, was to present a Yogi and Boo Boo who appear almost as physically real as the actors, with twinkling eyes and wet noses and all the warmth and subtleties, rather than as mere cartoon images. Our cinematographer, Peter James, lit them as he lit all the actors. I wanted them to be living, breathing, fully dimensional beings." Shot entirely in 3D with the latest generation of stereo photography, which Brevig calls 'the ultimate system', "Yogi Bear" delivers this blend of elements in a way, Brevig declares, "audiences have not seen before. This level of technology didn‘t exist a year ago." "The resolution, crispness and detail we can capture with the new 3D cameras is excellent," says Brevig, whose cut his teeth as a visual effects supervisor on films such as: "The Indian in the Cupboard", "Pearl Harbor", "K-19: The Widowmaker", "Signs" & "The Day After Tomorrow". "We took this camera system into places it has never been: into the treetops and down white water rapids. We flew it from a construction crane two hundred feet above the forest to get Yogi‘s point of view from his makeshift glider as he swoops down to grab a picnic basket, and everyone comes along for the ride." So how hard was that? "I won‘t say it was easy. It‘s an eighty pound rig because it‘s really two cameras: a right and a left. The camera crew is probably still nursing their aching backs. In "Yogi Bear", the stakes have never been higher for Yogi and Boo Boo. It's more than Yogi's latest pic-a-nic basket caper that's giving Ranger Smith a headache: it's the fate of the park itself. Corrupt Mayor Brown has been squandering the city‘s cash and now plans to cover his financial indiscretions and bankroll his bid for the governor‘s office by selling Jellystone Park." It‘s enough to make a bear lose his appetite. For a minute. The good news is that saving Jellystone Park will showcase every bit of Yogi's bold inventiveness, style and derring-do, not to mention a healthy dose of self-promotion, as well as Boo Boo‘s characteristic charm, good humor and keen eye for damage control. Together they will face this new challenge like they live every day of their lives: as a team. So important is their mission that Yogi and Boo Boo will join forces with the one man they‘ve always done their best to avoid: Ranger Smith. For those who don't know,: Yogi Bear and Boo Boo made their first appearance on the small screen in 1958 as part of Hanna-Barbera's: "The Huckleberry Hound Show", the first cartoon series ever to earn an Emmy Award for Distinguished Children‘s Programming. The pair‘s popularity soon launched their own spin-off show, in 1961, followed by a nationally syndicated comic strip and in 1964, "Hey There, It's Yogi Bear", their big-screen debut, in which Daws Butler voiced Yogi and Don Messick voiced both Boo Boo and Ranger Smith. In the ensuing years, the carefree mooch and his sweet-natured pal have been spotted in numerous series, specials, movies and DVD collections. Throughout, one theme has remained constant: friendship. No matter what's at stake or whether or not Yogi‘s latest contraption will crash land the two of them through the roof of the ranger station, at the heart of every "Yogi Bear" tale is the abiding camaraderie and comedic interplay between Yogi and Boo Boo. And their latest adventure is no exception. "It's about loyalty. In the end, your friends are your friends and you gotta stand by them," says Aykroyd. As many savvy viewers have come to understand, Boo Boo may really be the one who‘s smarter than the average bear, though it's a point he would never dream of pressing. "Boo Boo is definitely Yogi‘s conscience," Timberlake (who appeared with Samuel L Jackson and Christina Ricc in the 2006 Craig Brewer film, "Black Snake Moan") notes. "He's the good angel on Yogi‘s shoulder, always there to remind him of what‘s important. But even as he‘s the voice of reason, he does it all while being a cute little bear with a nasal-y voice." Yogi may be a tad vain, impulsive and sticky-fingered, but we love him because he‘s also decent, kindhearted and endlessly optimistic. Yogi'‘s charm stems from his basic civility. He may be a thief but he's a very courteous thief and that's why no one, not even Ranger Smith, can truly hold it against him. 1977 Emmy Award winner Aykroyd ("Saturday Night Live"), who jokes that he and his character share the Yogi Bear appetite, attributes his Yogi-channeling ability to "just having him in my head from watching the show so many times." "He does it in a very classic way but also puts a little Dan Aykroyd spin on it, so it‘s familiar but with a little something that makes it fresh," says De Line ("Body of Lies" & "I Love You, Man"). The filmmakers were also delighted with Timberlake‘s take on Boo Boo. "Donald, Karen and I met with him," Brevig recounts. "We all know he‘s a multi-talent, an impressive actor with a great voice, but would this be in his skill set? People think they can do Boo Boo but it‘s not easy. As we were talking, he casually dropped into character and we just stopped and looked at each other. He was fantastic." Timberlake, whose film credits include a starring role as the voice of Artie in the 2007 blockbuster hit "Shrek the Third", recalls, "I always used to walk around the house imitating all kinds of cartoon voices. I would mimic everything, and so I was happy to give Boo Boo a try." If Yogi is the unstoppable force, Ranger Smith is the immovable object in his path. With all his rules and regulations: plus a never-ending supply of signs advising Please Don't Feed The Bears; Smith is the law in Jellystone Park. Tom Cavanagh sees Smith as "a man who loves the great outdoors, all its flora and fauna, and lives for his park. He was raised by his father to be a park ranger and comes from a long succession of Rangers Smith, so he‘s committed." Cavanagh (TV'S "Scrubs") compares Smith‘s relationship with Yogi to "having a brother or a friend who always gets into trouble and makes a mess, but you still like him. For all his bluster, Ranger Smith doesn‘t have the heart to stay mad at Yogi. The truth is, Yogi does entertain him, though he‘d never admit it." Perhaps the funniest thing about the ranger is his touching belief that, one day, Yogi might actually heed his advice, stop raiding campsites and start acting like, well, a regular bear. So he is none too pleased to discover that the park‘s biggest liability is going to be the star subject of a documentary by filmmaker Rachel Johnson. Anna Faris ("My Super Ex-Girlfriend" & "Waiting"), who plays Johnson, notes: "Rachel is passionate about animals. She's lived with all kinds of wildlife to film her documentaries and now she‘s at Jellystone because she heard they have a couple of talking bears. This is supposed to be a rare thing, as opposed to completely impossible. The fact that they can talk at all doesn‘t really seem to faze anyone." Ranger Smith can use all the help he can get, as his over-enthusiastic and over-confident deputy Ranger Jones, can be more of a hindrance. T.J. Miller ("She's Out of My League"), who was cast as Jones, believes "The problem is that the deputy, who carries a collection of Boy Scout merit badges as proof of his worth, wants to be an expert on everything. He‘s an interesting character because he‘s a combination of goofiness and a drive for power. Simply put, he wants Smith‘s job but he‘s not ready for it." The scheming Mayor Brown is played by Andrew Daly ("Semi-Pro"), who gives the mayor‘s villainy a casual feel, explaining, "He‘s just going about his business. He has a long list of things to do today, and destroying Jellystone Park is only one of them." Brown's Chief of Staff is played by Nate Corddry ("The Ugly Truth"). It's a role identified by a title alone because, Daly as notes, "The mayor doesn‘t know his name. He regards him as a piece of office equipment, like a copier, and doesn‘t know anything about him as a human being. Whenever he hatches an evil plot, it‘s my character‘s job to deliver." What's It All About?

Picinic basket pinching Yogi Bear has always relied on his quick wit and fast feet to stay one step ahead of irate campers while dodging his long-suffering nemesis, Ranger Smith. But he and Boo Boo are about to face a situation worse than anything Yogi has ever gotten them into: picturesque Jellystone Park is being sold! To cover his mismanagement of city funds and fuel his election campaign, Mayor Brown plans to sell the park to loggers, putting the city back in the black. Now families will no longer be able to experience the natural beauty of the outdoors Jellystone has always provided. Worse, Yogi, Boo Boo and all their friends will be tossed out of the only home they've ever known. Faced with his biggest challenge ever, Yogi must prove he really is "smarter than the average bear". Both he and Boo Boo will join forces with Ranger Smith to find a way to save the park from closing down.

The Verdict "It's true! That loveable, 'smarter than the average bear' many of us grew up with (when we too were little tackers), is back on the big screen in another fun-filled adventure. And the news gets better and better. Thanks to the vision of director Eric Brevig and his dedicated production team, nothing has changed that would in any way detract from the iconic bear and his furry little side-kick we all love and adore. Yes, that always in trouble, pic-a-nic basket stealing, pie-eating Yogi Bear and his ever loyal sidekick Boo Boo, will steal the hearts of everyone. Well, with one exception: that low-down scheming Mayor Brown. "Yogi Bear" also features Ranger Smith; his ambitious assistant Ranger Jones and, a very attractive, head-turning, documentary filmmaker, Rachel Johnson. Kudos must be given to Aykroyd (Yogi) and Timberlake (Boo Boo) who have the voices of their characters down to a tee. What you'll see on the screen is crisp and totally life-like. Made even better, because the 3D works a treat. Good fun with all the usual hijinx you'd expect from Yogi, who as always has come up with some ingenious plans for relieving park visitors of their pic-a-nic baskets. Coupled to the on-screen antics is an timely environmental message coupled to a tale of how ambition, fueled by greed and a lust for power, can affect not only humans, but critters too. Sticks to what "Yogi Bear" was always about: having fun and a good laugh. 3 1/2 STARS." Who's Playing Who?

Dan Aykroyd Justin Timberlake Anna Faris Tom Cavanagh T.J. Miller Nathan Corddry Andrew Daly Josh Robert Thompson David Stott Greg Johnson Christy Quillam Patricia Aldersley Tim McLachlan Suzana Srpek

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Yogi Bear Boo Boo Rachel Ranger Smith Ranger Jones Chief of Staff Mayor Brown Narrator Mayor's Tailor Dirty Shopper Stylist Elderly Purse Lady Purse Snatcher Picnic Table Mom

Directed by Eric Brevig Written by Jeffrey Ventimilia/Joshua Sternin/Brad Copeland Produced by Karen Rosenfelt & Donald De Line Executive Producers Andrew Haas/Lee Berger/Barry Weiss Original Music by John Debney Cinematography by Peter James Film Editing by Kent Beyda Casting by Allison Jones & Liz Mullane Production Design by David Sandefur Art Direction by Jill Cormack Supervising Art Director Jules Cook Set Decoration by Daniel Birt Costume Design by Liz McGregor Run Time 84 minutes Rated G [AUST] Copyright ©2011 - Warner Bros - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2011 - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian & International Copyright, Trademark Laws & Intellectual Property Rights.