Berenstain Bears Movie Coming to Theaters

There are only a couple of reason why you clicked through to read this article. A) You have kids and they still enjoy reading the books and watching the cartoons made popular by Jan and Stan Berenstain or B) You have a morbid sense of curiosity and just had to see what all the hubbub is about.

Either way, the news is true; Coming Soon points to a report from USA Today stating that Walden Media has bought the movie rights to produce The Berenstain Bears movie adaptation. The film will be a comedy with a mix of live-action and CGI (of course it will). No 3D has been announced yet, but just wait, it won’t be far behind, I’m sure.

On top of grabbing a rather obscure childrens’ property (maybe obscure isn’t the right word, let’s say ‘lesser-known children’s property’) like the Berenstain Bears, Walden Media has hired family niche director Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum, Real Steel) to get behind the camera and bring this story to life. Says Levy of the film:

“I’d like the film to be un-ironic about its family connections but have a wry comedic sensibility that isn’t oblivious to the fact that they’re bears. The comedy comes from this bear family coexisting in a more recognizably real world.”

ARGH! Seriously, who do I have to punch in the throat to make studios and directors understand that making the “real world” act around fake animals and CGI counterparts isn’t funny? I will personally trick every single one of the people in involved in the project into a theater, lock the doors behind them, ala Inglourious Basterds, and make them watch The Country Bears, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Garfield and Alvin and the Chimpmunks non-stop until the message is soaked into their thick skulls.

I have no problem with a Berenstain Bears movie being made; children’s films serve a great purpose in the film world and without them, parents would never be able to make time to “fold laundry” in the bedroom. All kidding aside, I enjoy watching a good children’s film – for example,  my 4-year-old son and I routinely enjoy watching See Spot Run.  What bugs me the most is Hollywood’s approach to genre; not every kid’s film needs to be “dumbed” down in order for children to appreciate it. Hollywood needs to remember that the parents should be entertained too because they will be in the theaters as well.

First look at the new Berenstain Bears outfits?

The Berenstain Bears are a family of four bears living in a tree. The family includes Papa, Mama, Brother and Sister. Those are the only names ever given to the bears but each story about them conveyed a moral or a message about growing up, interacting with others or just being courteous to your friends, neighbors and family.

How familiar are you with The Berenstain Bears and would you take your kids to watch a film about them (parents, do you even have a choice)?

No release date nailed down yet but The Berenstain Bears is expected to drop in 2011.

Source: Coming Soon