With all the negative reviews from the critics and the general bad feelings that many posters seem to have about TCB (before having even seen the movie, I might add), I thought I would post my thoughts on the movie.
I saw it about a half hour ago with DS (age 5) and DD (age 2). All three of us (yes, I am 28) really enjoyed the movie.
The best parts for the kids were the musical numbers: They were upbeat and they danced through them. They enjoyed the animatronic bears (I like the fact that they weren't CGI-they may still not look necessarily real, but I can invest more in a character when I know what I'm seeing on screen is being seen by the other actors). The interaction between characters is more real, as well.
The cast was likable--Deidrich Bader, Daryl Mitchell, Brad Garrett, James Gammon, Stephen Root. The fact that this is an ensemble movie and not headed by one huge star (i.e. POC - Johnny Depp/HM - Eddie), made sure that we didn't spend too much time with one particular character, making the movie move along better.
It didn't take long for the movie to get going, although the back story and character development suffer somewhat for this--but, of course, kids don't care much for character development. They want something that can hold their interest for 90 minutes.
I did have a few problems with the movie. The was the aforementioned lack of lack of CD and, again, the back story is not explored as much as it should, meaning you don't care for the characters as much as you should. Also, the Christopher Walken character, while necessary to the plotline was just about the worst thing in the movie. His character is so stupid, so pointlessly idiotic, that it's hard to believe for one minute that he could get the better of the Bears. The story could have used a little more conflict between the bears. It's almost too easy for Beary to get the Bears back together (Not a SPOILER, I mean, c'mon, we all knew they would eventually get back together).
To sum it up:
Good for the kids - good music, fast-moving action, funny (although very simplistic) gags, kept their attention for 90 minutes
Good for me - nice story, animatronics better than CGI, clever cameos by Willie Nelson, Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John, kept my attention for 90 minutes,
Not-so-great - dumb villian, should have explored more of the Bears' history, pretty predictable
There you have it. Please post your thoughts if you've seen the movie.
I saw it about a half hour ago with DS (age 5) and DD (age 2). All three of us (yes, I am 28) really enjoyed the movie.
The best parts for the kids were the musical numbers: They were upbeat and they danced through them. They enjoyed the animatronic bears (I like the fact that they weren't CGI-they may still not look necessarily real, but I can invest more in a character when I know what I'm seeing on screen is being seen by the other actors). The interaction between characters is more real, as well.
The cast was likable--Deidrich Bader, Daryl Mitchell, Brad Garrett, James Gammon, Stephen Root. The fact that this is an ensemble movie and not headed by one huge star (i.e. POC - Johnny Depp/HM - Eddie), made sure that we didn't spend too much time with one particular character, making the movie move along better.
It didn't take long for the movie to get going, although the back story and character development suffer somewhat for this--but, of course, kids don't care much for character development. They want something that can hold their interest for 90 minutes.
I did have a few problems with the movie. The was the aforementioned lack of lack of CD and, again, the back story is not explored as much as it should, meaning you don't care for the characters as much as you should. Also, the Christopher Walken character, while necessary to the plotline was just about the worst thing in the movie. His character is so stupid, so pointlessly idiotic, that it's hard to believe for one minute that he could get the better of the Bears. The story could have used a little more conflict between the bears. It's almost too easy for Beary to get the Bears back together (Not a SPOILER, I mean, c'mon, we all knew they would eventually get back together).
To sum it up:
Good for the kids - good music, fast-moving action, funny (although very simplistic) gags, kept their attention for 90 minutes
Good for me - nice story, animatronics better than CGI, clever cameos by Willie Nelson, Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John, kept my attention for 90 minutes,
Not-so-great - dumb villian, should have explored more of the Bears' history, pretty predictable
There you have it. Please post your thoughts if you've seen the movie.