I really like the adventurous plot, the realistic and detailed costumes and the character personalities in this remake of the class Three Bears story.
This film tells about how Baby Bear sneaks out on Christmas morning to find the perfect gift for his parents, Mama and Papa Bear, only to cross paths with the evil Boo Hag who transforms him into a human. It is the prefect mixture of action, sadness and silliness. It is 100% live action, with the animals being people in costumes instead of being CG.
The characters that stand out the most to me are Bedilia Beaverton (Maile Flanagan) because she's hilarious and Madame Rosa (Elissa Dowling) because I like her accent. They are very realistic and yet they also have human characteristics as well. They are always in one forest or another. My favorite setting is the scene where they are walking through the woods and all of the trees are lit up with Christmas tree lights.
I like the song in the beginning a lot. It reminds me of barn dance music. All of the songs are good, but the singing could have been better. There are only two special effects. One is a kind of scary banshee. The other is a fairy that is a glowing pink orb half of the time.
The message of the film is that a perfect gift doesn't always have to be something big and extravagant. Sometimes, the perfect gift is something small but meaningful. Some things to be aware of are that first, we see Baby Bear, Benny and Goldie sneaking off without telling their parents where they are going and then, they talk to and trust a stranger. There are some scary images that would make it unsuitable for younger kids.
I give this 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It will be available November 15, 2019 so look for it.
By Kayenta C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
A loving heart can be the greatest gift of all. The Three Bears: The Perfect Gift is sure to be a holiday favorite. It revisits the classic Three Bears story, adding a modern twist filled with suspense and thought provoking circumstances. Can humans, animals and make believe characters find the courage within to help each other on Christmas? We take a journey through an enchanted forest where multiple tragedies take place. Boohag, a wicked witch who lives in a secluded space called black hollow, is to blame. She is a mean old witch that will ruin the lives of anyone that crosses her path. Find out what happens when two loving fathers join forces to rescue their family.
Goldie, Benny the Beaver and Baby Bear travel along an amusing journey of danger, mystery and magic. Most importantly, we find out if spells are cast and if wishes really do come true. Curious children decide to collect gifts on Christmas Eve, but find much more than they bargain for.
I enjoyed the actor's performances, the graphics and the storyline. The message is about learning to be brave and put differences aside to problem solve. I really liked seeing a new version of this childhood classic with a holiday theme that appeals to kids and families. I had to stream the video on a different device because the first one kept pausing. But, once I got it working, it was entertaining and held my attention immediately after the first few minutes. The film progressively gets better. The story is a little predictable, but the ways in which problems occur is unexpected. The costumes are also quite charming.
The production quality is very good, although some scenes and graphics don't match the actual settings. But, all images are clear. The sound is great. I enjoyed the bonus features and bloopers at the end. It gives us a chance to see the actors without their costumes on.
I give this film 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 5 to12. This is available now on DVD so, keep a look out for it, especially for the next holiday season. Reviewed by Elle Stewart, KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror.
When Baby Bear steals a turnip from the wicked Boo-Hag's garden - she transforms him into a human. Unless he finds the perfect gift before Christmas morning, he will remain a boy forever and Mother Nature will banish him from the Enchanted forest.
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