YOGI BEAR 3D
An enjoyable, charming family outing for all ages.
Should You Watch It?
YOGI BEAR 3D delivers exactly the kind of cheerful family entertainment its premise promises. Dan Aykroyd and Justin Timberlake capture Yogi and Boo Boo’s distinctive voices and comic attitudes, while the live actors join the fun. The 3D effects help bring the bears and their antics to life.
The movie also offers good lessons about doing the right thing, stewardship of God’s Creation, listening to the voice of reason, and serving the people. Its environmental message is stronger and more politically charged than some parents may prefer, especially because the federal endangered species act helps solve the story’s central problem. Still, the source review finds the moral messages strong enough to keep those elements from becoming too radical.
If you want a clean, merry movie for everyone, this is worth the trip.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESYogi Bear and his little companion, Boo Boo, spend their days at Jellystone Park, where Yogi keeps inventing new ways to steal picnic baskets while avoiding Ranger Smith.
Then the local mayor develops a plan to sell the park to loggers. Ranger Smith gets a short chance to save Jellystone, but the mayor uses deceit and sabotage to stop him. Yogi, Boo Boo, Ranger Smith, and a new naturalist named Rachel must join forces to protect their home.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a highly enjoyable family movie. It has a constant merry spirit, some really good jokes, hilarious bear antics, and plentiful 3D effects that make Yogi and Boo Boo come alive.
Dan Aykroyd and Justin Timberlake do wonderful work capturing the characters’ distinct voices and attitudes. Tom Cavanaugh is sympathetic and appealing as Ranger Smith, Anna Faris is fun as Rachel, and Andrew Daly is funny as the mean, power-mad villain. The movie is pretty much what fans of the cartoon might expect, but it delivers that familiar fun with charm.
The Worldview
YOGI BEAR presents a strong moral contrast between selfishness and service. Yogi is a lovable rogue who steals picnic baskets and ignores Ranger Smith and Boo Boo until it is almost too late. Boo Boo serves as Yogi’s conscience and voice of reason, while the story ultimately encourages Yogi to use his smarts for good.
The film strongly supports environmental protection through the federal endangered species act, a message the source review describes as liberal and socialist. That environmental emphasis is balanced by a more conservative, pro-American message about doing the right thing, being a good steward of God’s Creation, and serving the people. The movie also presents public officials as having an obligation to those they serve.
The film’s central call to care for creation aligns with Scripture’s command to exercise responsible stewardship: “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong moral worldview where Yogi Bear is encouraged to use his smarts for good, with some strong environmentalist content supporting the socialist federal endangered species act, but also with a strong implied biblical, more conservative, pro-American attitude of doing the right thing, being a good steward of God’s Creation and serving the people, all of which diminish the environmentalist elements and prevent them from being too radical; no obscenities or profanities but a couple verbal references to Boo Boo having gas problems eating certain foods, turtle burps and ranger says, “Dang it!”; light but plentiful cartoon violence includes Yogi Bear flung into tree trunk, Yogi Bear and picnic basket contents go flying toward audience in 3D, fireworks catch on fire and start spinning toward crowd, Yogi Bear does water ski stunts and his cape catches on fire, Yogi Bear flies glider recklessly endangering himself and Boo Boo, raft with CGI bears and people on it go down water rapids, souped-up jeep races through woods, Yogi Bear bumps rear end on fence posts while trying to hop a train, turtle’s frog-like tongue flips out and sticks to things, pratfalls, objects destroyed; no sex but romance blossoms and there’s a brief kiss; no nudity; no alcohol; no smoking or drugs; and, greedy corrupt mayor lies, employee sabotages his boss (Ranger Smith) for power, Yogi Bear steals picnic baskets and often ignores Ranger Smith’s and Boo Boo’s warnings, Yogi Bear doesn’t completely change (he’ll always be a lovable rogue stealing picnic baskets but Boo Boo and Ranger Smith will always be the voices of reason and goodness), and naturalist makes comment about scratching animals’ backsides and says that this doesn’t work with humans.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Yogi often ignores Boo Boo’s warnings until it is almost too late. Why do we need wise voices in our lives, and how should we respond to correction?
Proverbs 12:15 · Proverbs 15:31–32The story presents caring for Jellystone Park as a responsibility. What does it mean to be a good steward of God’s Creation?
Genesis 2:15 · Psalm 24:1The mayor uses his position selfishly, while Ranger Smith works to serve the community. What does Scripture require of people with authority?
Mark 10:42–45 · Romans 13:3–4The Final Word
YOGI BEAR 3D is clean, merry, and full of classic cartoon fun. Its environmental message deserves a conversation, but its lessons about goodness, stewardship, and service make it an enjoyable outing for the entire family. WORTH THE TRIP.
