It's clear going into this that the movie was designed entirely with concept in mind. The idea pretty much runs the movie with the singular question: What would a black bear do high on a whole lot of cocaine? In real life, the bear was found dead from an overdose. In this movie, it goes on a near rampage, mangling and killing near everyone in it's path. What we get is a movie that's entertaining when it's focused on the bear and lagging when it's not. But overall, it's a pretty decent, mostly fun movie, if too forgettable.
After a fun and bloody opening, the film spends a good chunk of it's time introducing us to our main characters. It's a mixed bag: Keri Russel and Oshea Jackson probably get the least interesting characters, but do a decent job with the thin parts. Ray Liotta shows up mostly for the third act and it's great to see him in what is one of his last major roles. Alden Ehrenreich Does a decent job as the sympathetic son of Ray Liotta's kingpin. The highlights were the kids and especially Margo Martindale in short role as a forest ranger.
Of course, the highlight here is the bear. The bear on cocaine is played up for campy laughs and gory horror, and fans of both will be very pleased. I'd even go so far as to call this, in part, a slasher as it plays it up like one at many points. And whenever the bear is on screen, it's an entertaining ride with lots of bloody bits and missing limbs. Of particular highlight is the ambulance scene teased in the trailer. Unfortunately, when the bear isn't on screen, the film lags. It feels almost like the characters and story exist to pad out time and lead into the bear tearing it up. Fortunately, what is fun outweighs what isn't.
This is the kind of movie that, later down the line, will likely have the kind of cult status we get from a lot of 80's and 90's movies. I don't expect it to be particularly memorable after it's time in the theater, but those who love it will love it and those who don't will likely forget it after watching it. But the film does give you exactly what you came to see.
After a fun and bloody opening, the film spends a good chunk of it's time introducing us to our main characters. It's a mixed bag: Keri Russel and Oshea Jackson probably get the least interesting characters, but do a decent job with the thin parts. Ray Liotta shows up mostly for the third act and it's great to see him in what is one of his last major roles. Alden Ehrenreich Does a decent job as the sympathetic son of Ray Liotta's kingpin. The highlights were the kids and especially Margo Martindale in short role as a forest ranger.
Of course, the highlight here is the bear. The bear on cocaine is played up for campy laughs and gory horror, and fans of both will be very pleased. I'd even go so far as to call this, in part, a slasher as it plays it up like one at many points. And whenever the bear is on screen, it's an entertaining ride with lots of bloody bits and missing limbs. Of particular highlight is the ambulance scene teased in the trailer. Unfortunately, when the bear isn't on screen, the film lags. It feels almost like the characters and story exist to pad out time and lead into the bear tearing it up. Fortunately, what is fun outweighs what isn't.
This is the kind of movie that, later down the line, will likely have the kind of cult status we get from a lot of 80's and 90's movies. I don't expect it to be particularly memorable after it's time in the theater, but those who love it will love it and those who don't will likely forget it after watching it. But the film does give you exactly what you came to see.