The MagazineCanada

YOGI BEAR opens with a familiar cartoon energy and then tries to scale it up with modern cinema tricks. In this 2010 live action and CGI adventure, Dan Aykroyd lends tone and voice to Yogi Bear while Justin Timberlake voices Boo Boo. Jellystone Park faces hard times as Mayor Brown schemes to shut it down and sell the land, threatening a place cherished by families who grew up with the picnic basket hijinks. To save their home, Yogi teams with Boo Boo and joins Ranger Smith for a plan that could keep Jellystone open and remind audiences why the bear became a legend. This is not the same as the old cartoons, yet the film attempts to honor the spirit even while distributing its energy across a wide screen. The blend of real-world actors with computer generated characters is visually ambitious but sometimes jarring. The film aims for a breezy, family friendly vibe, yet the charm that made the original cartoons work feels diluted by the need to accommodate live performances and broad humor. Some viewers might find it an easy watch on a lazy afternoon, but the nostalgia for a simpler cartoon world remains stronger than the narrative energy on screen. On the performances, Aykroyd and Timberlake bring energetic delivery and clearly enjoy the silly back and forth with the cartoon star. Boo Boo reads as loyal and goofy, a supporting partner who provides light relief without stealing Yogi’s spotlight. The interaction between the two bears and Ranger Smith lands some genuine light moments, though the script often relies on predictable setups and pop culture gags that quickly wear thin. Plotwise the film treads familiar ground. The central message about friendship and protecting a community is well intended, but the plot never quite locks into a compelling rhythm. Visuals pop with bright colors and lively textures, and the park is depicted as a cheerful playground even as the story sometimes stumbles over its own need for a fast pace. There are moments that land, but many scenes feel primarily functional rather than inspired. The movie also reflects a certain ambition to deliver a modern family friendly spectacle, but the tonal shifts and pacing inconsistencies reduce its persuasive pull. Ultimately the movie serves as a glossy invitation to revisit a classic character, but it falls short of offering a satisfying, timeless experience. It has enough sparkle to entertain younger audiences and gullible adults seeking a lighthearted diversion, yet it fails to capture the heart of the Yogi lore. The overall impression is of a high effort that misses the mark on mood and memory. The film earns two stars.