Yogi Bear comes to the big screen… in CGI… somebody made a mistake.
Haven’t they learned from Garfield or Alvin and the Chipmunks? Why is there a new trend in Hollywood to turn classic cartoons into terrible CGI-driven crap? The latest to be produced is Yogi Bear, set to be released this December. The filming began November 2009 and is being directed by Eric Brevig, who only has one film to his name… and that film is Journey to the Center of the Earth. From this fact alone, I’m expecting mediocre CGI effects and flat acting.
But wait! Perhaps the film is not doomed for total failure – there are some good casting choices: Dan Ackroyd will voice Yogi, Anna Faris will play Rachel, a filmmaker producing a nature documentary in Jellystone Park, TJ Miller, who had a hilarious role as Jay Baruchel’s friend Stainer in this year’s She’s Out of My League, is rumored to play Ranger Jones, Andrew Daly (Eastbound and Down, Semi-Pro) is cast as Mayor Brown, and Tom Cavanagh as Ranger Smith.
I’m uncertain about Justin Timberlake signing on to voice Boo-Boo Bear. Recently, I’ve gained a lot of respect for him as a comedic actor (watch any J.T. clip from Saturday Night Live), but I’d like to see how he’ll adapt his voice to match Boo-Boo’s (assuming he’ll try to imitate the original high squeak of the small cub).
Brad Copeland has written the screenplay, which has me shrugging my shoulders like Boo-Boo. Sure, he’s written for Arrested Development, but it’s Copeland who also has Wild Hogs under his belt – one movie no one should brag about.
Will Yogi Bear be any good? I’m hoping it will be, despite the negative weight in names it’s carrying right now. Until we know the answer to that question, all we can do is watch TJ Miller’s audition tape for the role of Ranger Jones, acting alongside a real bear:
