YOGI BEARNot yet rated; likely PG. In theaters 12/17. Ok for kids 7+. 3 out of 5
Reels. https://www.yogibear.com/
Everyone’s favorite pic-a-nic basket-stealing bear comes to the big
screen in this CG-animated flick based on the classic Hanna-Barbera
cartoon that dates back to 1958 (Yogi started out as a supporting character
on ‘The Huckleberry Hound Show’). Jellystone Park has been losing
business, so greedy Mayor Brown (Andrew Daly) decides to shut it
down and sell the land. That means families will no longer be able to
experience the natural beauty of the outdoors — even worse, Yogi (voiced
by Dan Aykroyd) and Boo Boo (Justin Timberlake) will be tossed out of
the only home they’ve ever known. Is Yogi really “smarter than the average bear”?
Time will tell as he and Boo Boo join forces with their old nemesis Ranger Smith (Tom
Cavanagh) to save Jellystone Park from closing forever. Ok, so it all sounds a little hokey,
but it’s Yogi Bear and Boo Boo! And Dan Aykroyd and Justin Timberlake!
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA:
THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER
Not yet rated; likely PG. In theaters 12/10. Ok for kids 8+. 3 out of 5 Reels.
https://www.narnia.com/
This third film in the Narnia franchise finds Edmund and Lucy Pevensie
(Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley), along with their pesky cousin Eustace
Scrubb (Will Poulter), swallowed into a painting and onto a fantastic
Narnian ship headed for the edge of the world. Joining forces with their
friend Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) and the warrior mouse Reepicheep
(Simon Pegg), the group is whisked away on a mysterious mission to the
Lone Islands and beyond. The voyage will test their hearts and spirits as
they face magical Dufflepuds, sinister slave traders, roaring dragons and
enchanted merfolk. Only an uncharted journey to Aslan’s Country-a voyage
of destiny and transformation for each of those aboard the Dawn Treader-can save
Narnia and all the astonishing creatures who live there. The third movie is usually about
the time a franchise starts to slip wildly, but that’s not necessarily the case here if you
or your kids are fans of the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis.
HOW DO YOU KNOW
Not yet rated; likely PG-13. In theaters 12/17. Ok for kids 13+. 4 out of 5 Reels.
www.howdoyouknow-movie.com/
Feeling a bit past her prime at 27 (!), former athlete Lisa Jorgenson (Reese
Witherspoon) finds herself smack in the middle of a love triangle with corporate guy
in crisis George (Paul Rudd) and baseball player Manny (Owen Wilson). Aside from
the really great cast, which includes Jack Nicholson, this movie boasts the directorial
talents of James L. Brooks. The veteran writer-director-producer is an absolute genius, and you can see it in
his vast credits, which include ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ ‘Taxi,’ ‘As Good As It Gets,’ ‘Big’ and ‘Terms
of Endearment.’ If you’re ready to see a movie directed by a guy who knows his stuff, ‘How Do You Know’
is the one.
LITTLE FOCKERS
Not yet rated; likely PG. In theaters 12/22. Ok for kids 10+. 3 out of 5
Reels. https://www.littlefockers.net/
It’s taken ten years, two little Fockers with wife Pam (Teri Polo),
and countless hurdles for Greg (Ben Stiller) to finally get “in” with his
tightly wound father-in-law, Jack (Robert De Niro). But when Greg
and Pam’s entire clan — including Pam’s lovelorn ex, Kevin (Owen
Wilson) — descends for the twins’ birthday party, Greg must prove to the skeptical
Jack that he’s fully capable as the man of the house. Expect plenty of misunderstandings,
spying and covert missions to determine whether the circle of trust will be broken forever.
This is the third film in the Focker franchise, and while the second movie faltered a
bit, the addition of Laura Dern, Jessica Alba and Harvey Keitel injects
new life into it, not to mention the return of Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand and Blythe Danner.
TRON: LEGACY
Not yet rated; like PG-13. In theaters 12/17. Ok for kids 13+.
4 out of 5 Reels. https://disney.go.com/disneypictures/tron/
Surely one of the most anticipated movies of the year, ‘Tron: Legacy’ is a 3D
high-tech adventure set in a digital world unlike anything ever captured on the big
screen. Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) is a rebellious 27-year-old who’s haunted by
the mysterious disappearance of his father Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges, who played
the same part in the original 1982 ‘Tron’), a man once known as the world’s leading
video-game developer. When Sam investigates a strange signal sent from his dad’s
shop, he finds himself pulled into a virtual world where Kevin has been trapped
for 20 years. With the help of fearless warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son
embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually stunning cyber universe created
by Kevin himself. I suggest watching the original movie right before you head to the theater.
JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM
One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it. Two Reels – Coulda been a contender. Three Reels – Something to talk about.. Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick! Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of. Jane Louise Boursaw is a freelance writer specializing in the movie and television industries. Visit her online at www.ReelLifeWithJane.com, or email [email protected]
