Unbearable animation

WHENEVER beloved cartoon characters from my childhood are revamped for modern audiences and make the transition to the big screen ... a little bit of me dies.

Needless to say, when I heard that Yogi Bear was the next victim of modernisation I became worried. What if they got it wrong and took away what makes this character smarter than your average bear?

As I eagerly sat down in my seat with the lights gently dimmed, I became aware of two things. Firstly, this is a children's movie and, as such, I was in a room-filled with screaming children. Secondly, if I didn't like the film I'd be crying louder than them (and that is a bold statement).

For those of you who are too young to remember Yogi, I'll explain everything you need to know about the cartoon. Yogi is a bear (shocker I know) who lives in Jellystone National park with his friend, and fellow bear, Boo Boo. To the untrained eye, he is just an average bear, with the exception of his snappy hat and tie combination, but to Ranger Smith, who runs the park, he's a nuisance because of his penchant for stealing campers picnic baskets.

Now if that doesn't sound entertaining to you, maybe it's because you've been spoiled by countless 3D movies that make a picnic-stealing bear sound dull and outdated. But, I assure you, there is more to this classic character than meets the eye.

To set the scene for the part CGI animation, part live-action film, Yogi and Boo Boo are up to their usual shenanigans, plotting a way to get their paws on the campers' food and Ranger Smith is doing his best to thwart their efforts.

Amidst the commotion a beautiful documentary-maker called Rachel comes to Jellystone with the goal of making a movie about the park ... and its mischievous inhabitants. Smitten with the young lady, Ranger Smith gives her permission to make her film and since Yogi loves attention, he obliges to her request too.

The park is due to celebrate its 100th anniversary, which ordinarily would be a happy occasion, but due to a lack of visitors the greedy mayor has plans to sell the park to loggers. So, Ranger Smith, Rachel and the bears set about trying to save their home by having a huge party to draw the crowds and raise a profit.

However, the mayor and his lacky assistant have no intention of making things easy for them, and even enlist the help of Ranger Jones to sabotage the celebrations.

This is the part of my review that it pains me to write ... this adaptation has less depth than the original seven-minute cartoons that brought the bear fame in the 1960s.

Aside from lackluster performances from Faris and Cavanagh, Dan Akroid is overwhelmingly disappointing in his portrayal as Yogi. Now, I'm not blaming Dan entirely ... I'm even willing to grant him a little leniency because he didn't write the script ... and also because he starred in Ghostbusters.

With that said, if the kids who watch this movie are anything like the ones in the theatre during the screening I saw, I don't imagine they'll care too much about the plot. They'll just be happy with the bright colours and the superfluously frequent slapstick 'humour'.

When the movie ended, I noticed a loud, uncontrollable whining coming from the theatre. It was louder than anything I had heard during the film (and that includes the inconsiderate parents talking on their mobile phones). It sounded like a bag of kittens being gutted, it was awful, it was ... me, I told you I'd cry if it was bad!

Showing in Cineco, Seef II and Saar Cineplex