I know a lot of movies nowadays, love to try and be the next big thing. Win awards. Break records. But then there are some movies that are out there, that simply offer a good time. Will it be winning any “prestigious” awards? No. Are you going to have a ball laughing and enjoying a good film? Yes.
Let me introduce you to Cocaine Bear.
When I first saw the trailer for Cocaine Bear, I know my jaw slacked a little. I’d heard the story of the a bear being found deceased with drugs in its system. But to make a movie about that? What? However, as I watched the trailer, and saw the dark humor behind it, I knew I had to see it.
No joke, my mouth popped open in that shocked “O” within the first two minutes of this movie starting. The absurdity, once started, does not stop. Which means at around an hour and a half long, we were hooked the entire time. Eyebrows popping, and trying to stifle our laughter at the series of events that take place throughout the whole film.
The cast of characters presented were hilarious. Because some are somewhat serious characters compared to others, which are very over-the-top. Even if their screen time was short, they had purpose and that purpose was most likely to make you laugh.
So much laughter? But isn’t this supposed to be a thriller type?
Well, yeah. And what a thrill-ride it is. You know, but at the same time don’t know, what an absurdity is around the corner. It’s a bear on cocaine.
Now, onto more technical aspects.
The Bear
I tend to be a stickler on CGI animals. It just leaves me dumbstruck, how we can make movies set in whole different worlds and make it look real, but that CGI dog looks like a cartoon. Like they’re made of rubber versus having a skeleton and muscles. Have they ever watched a documentary on say wolves? Or seen an animal in the real world? Have they seen them move? How did this limp noodle dog pass quality check?
It annoys me.
Maybe it shouldn’t, but when they made realistic dinosaurs in Jurassic Park (1993) it left my standards raised indefinitely.
I will now step down from that box to say, they did so good on the bear!
Yeah, there are moments when the animation is clear. The bear is quite expressive, but they did a superb job on the design in my opinion. When it’s running, it looks like a bear with muscles and bones, with the laws of physics (mostly) working on it.
So if you take away nothing else, let it be known that this film, though meant to be a mostly big joke, “spared no expense” it felt like on the quality of their star.
Blood & Gore
Another thing this movie didn’t skimp on was the gore. There is blood and guts, and wounds that are done better than that seeping red that “bleeds” through shirts hinting at what damage has occurred. I’m not a squeamish person by nature, but there was a particular scene that had me turning away for a brief second. I had just ate though, which may have factored in, but still.
If you like a story with a lot, a lot, of accidents and bloody violence, you will be pleased.
The Story
The story outside of the cocaine fueled bear, is mediocre at best. There are a few plot-lines. Drug dealers, a lost kid, a park ranger, a cop trying to find said drug-dealers…there is a decent sized cast. But the stories, even the well intentioned ones, are just meh for me.
It’s all about how these random people have to deal with the craziness that ensues due to the circumstances surrounding the bear and drugs, or the bear itself.
But let’s be honest, no one is walking into this movie for some epic narrative. We’re going in for the drug-crazed bear, absurdity, and chaos.
In Conclusion
This is not a serious movie. At all. It’s a dark comedy. If you go in wanting to take this movie seriously, you’re going to be severely disappointed. If you’re looking for a movie to watch and just have fun, to laugh at how insane and ridiculous it is, you will not be disappointed. It’s not a great movie as a whole, but it’s great for what it is. It’s great for laughter and blood.
I gave Cocaine Bear
This movie will be streaming on PeacockTV starting April 14th, 2023!
P.S.
If you want to read more on the actual cocaine bear that inspired this story. You can find that information here.
Follow Me:
For More Reading:
