Movie Review: ‘Cocaine Bear’

What is ‘Cocaine Bear’ based mostly on?

Inspired by the unbelievable true story of a drug runner ditching his haul over Tennessee (and continuing to die when his parachute doesn’t open after he jumps out), ‘Cocaine Bear’ follows what occurs when a black bear stumbles upon one of many cocaine packages that finally ends up touchdown within the Blood Mountain area of Georgia.

Before lengthy, hikers, park rangers, and drug sellers––the latter on the hunt for his or her lacking narcotics––are simply making an attempt to outlive because the bear, hooked on the stuff, rampages by way of the woods, in search of out its subsequent excessive and savaging virtually everybody it occurs upon.

Caught up in all that is Sari (Keri Russell), a single mom whose daughter Dee Dee (‘The Florida Project’s Brooklynn Prince) has skipped faculty with finest pal Henry (‘Sweet Tooth’ star Christian Convery). She’ll have to search out the youngsters and save her personal cover when she crosses paths with each the bear and the criminals…

Director Elizabeth Banks on the set of ‘Cocaine Bear.’ © 2023 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

What works in ‘Cocaine Bear’?

Director Elizabeth Banks has proven a eager eye and ear for comedy in each her performing and directing previous (even her unfairly maligned ‘Charlie’s Angels’ reboot is funnier than folks bear in mind). And mixed with the normally certain arms of Phil Lord and Chris Miller (for whom she acted in ‘The Lego Movie’ franchise), Banks has delivered an early contender for silliest (and goriest) film of the yr.

‘Cocaine Bear’ is beneath no illusions as to what’s on provide––come for the drug-addled ursine, keep for the assorted people who’re making an attempt to not die. With a succession of entertaining ‘80s needle drops (since the movie is set in 1985), the tone is here very much echoing Sam Raimi’s early work, with loads of sensible results spurting blood all over the place.

The forged additionally appears very conscious of the project; and the likes of O’Shea Jackson, Jr., Alden Ehrenreich and even the late, nice Ray Liotta ship on the laughs in addition to respiration life into these folks. A particular shout-out should additionally go to Aaron Holliday taking part in the nogoodnik referred to as “‘Stache”, who gives real Dax Shepard energy as he makes his gangly way through the movie.

Set-piece-wise, it’s additionally a complete heap of enjoyable, with Margo Martindale particularly (or at the very least her stunt double) put by way of the ringer as a Park Ranger with a gun and horrible goal. One significantly humorous scene includes, Martindale, a few paramedics performed by Kahyun Kim and Tom Scott Seiss, an ambulance and the titular creature. Let’s simply say that the ‘Fast & Furious’ crew may get some concepts, and using Depeche Mode’s ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’ is the blood-red cherry on the cocaine cake.

In amongst all the sensible gore, there may be the bear, a creation of Wētā FX which means no actual animals had been used within the scenes. “Cokey” was carried out on set by a efficiency seize actor named Allan Henry, who skilled with Andy Serkis on the ‘Planet of the Apes’ motion pictures. He and the digital wizardry are accountable for a number of the funnier moments within the film.

Actually, the bear straddles each classes. While there are moments the place it seems prefer it padded straight out of a National Geographic documentary, there are different occasions when it seems ridiculously crude and wouldn’t be misplaced in a ‘Sharknado’ film. That doesn’t actually damage the leisure worth.

Keri Russell in director Elizabeth Banks’ ‘Cocaine Bear.’ © 2023 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

What doesn’t work in ‘Cocaine Bear’?

Like its central determine, the film additionally has excessive factors –– pun fully supposed –– and low factors, although the highs are extra constant and the lows are principally a product of the tone.

This is a film that was by no means aiming for subtlety, nor significantly deep character improvement, and certainly it’s principally with out both. And whereas that actually works given the zanier tone, it’s additionally somewhat one-note. Beyond a few stabs at actual emotion between Sari and her younger expenses and one or two enjoyable exchanges between O’Shea Jackson, Jr.’s Daveed: and Ehrenreich’s Eddie, there’s not a lot to make you take care of anybody on display.

Which is absolutely the purpose, because it’s hardly a spoiler to disclose that many characters find yourself as bear bait (or by the hands of extra human fates).

Yet Jimmy Warden’s script is rarely fairly as humorous as all concerned appear to assume it’s––actually it has some laugh-out-loud moments (as we referred to above), however there’s nonetheless the sense of the creators chuckling away greater than the viewers maybe will.

Expect this one to be extra of a cult favourite, certain to be loved by audiences in years to come back, and definitely one to see with a crowd anticipating little greater than a gory, campy comedy that makes certain you get what you count on.

‘Cocaine Bear’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.

(L to R) O’Shea Jackson Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, Ayoola Smart, and Ray Liotta in director Elizabeth Banks’ ‘Cocaine Bear.’ © 2023 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

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