Cocaine Bear - A Movie Review

Deep in the woods by Georgia’s Chattahoochee River, a bear had stumbled upon a cartel’s stash, ingested $2 million worth of cocaine, and died. The story might seem like a punchline, but it’s actually based on a real 1985 news report. The incident has inspired the creation of a movie called Cocaine Bear, which explores what would have happened if that bear had gone on a murderous rampage.

Screenwriter Jimmy Warden has penned an outrageous plot, one that promises to deliver plenty of entertainment. The movie starts with a moment of superlative, hair-rock-soundtracked slapstick from Matthew Rhys, and it continues with intermittent hedonistic highs throughout. Director Elizabeth Banks goes for the gore with admirable gusto, but the movie doesn't build up the suspense needed for a truly thrilling narrative.

While the CGI bear looks decent and suffices for a few jump scares, it fails to deliver true suspense. The audience expects to learn how cocaine affects the ursine brain, with wall charts and diagrams, but no bear behavioural expert, spurious or otherwise, provides the necessary scientific exposition. Without a narrative buildup or expert explanation, Cocaine Bear fails to reach its potential.

The cast is fine, featuring the late Ray Liotta, who looks like Henry Hill back from witness protection, and Brooklynn Prince, who makes good on her early promise. However, there's no one in the cast who would be shameless enough to straight-face a line like, “I’ve had it with these muthafuckin snakes on this muthafuckin plane!”, even if Warden’s script had thoughtfully provided one.

Despite the lack of suspense and expert exposition, Cocaine Bear's premise has the potential to be a great B-movie. It's just too sober to get high on its own supply. The movie is released on February 24 in the US and UK.

It's worth noting that Cocaine Bear has received plenty of pre-release hype, which is somewhat surprising given the lack of star power or a big-budget studio backing. Still, the film has garnered plenty of buzz thanks to its outrageous premise and the talent involved in its production.

Elizabeth Banks, who made her directorial debut with Pitch Perfect 2, has taken on the directing duties for Cocaine Bear. Banks is known for her ability to bring a sense of fun and humor to her projects, and that sensibility is on full display here. However, the film doesn't quite hit the mark when it comes to balancing its outrageous premise with a compelling narrative.

The film's screenplay, penned by Jimmy Warden, is a mixed bag. On one hand, Warden deserves credit for coming up with such a wild and unexpected concept. On the other hand, the script never quite finds the right tone or pacing. The film's humor can be hit-or-miss, and the plot can feel a bit disjointed at times.

Despite these flaws, Cocaine Bear is not without its merits. The film boasts some solid performances from its cast, particularly Matthew Rhys, who brings a great deal of energy and charisma to his role. The movie also features some impressive gore effects, which should satisfy fans of the horror genre.

It's worth noting, however, that the film doesn't quite live up to its promise as a killer bear thriller. While the bear does go on a rampage at certain points in the film, the majority of the movie is focused on a group of characters who are tangentially connected to the bear's story. This can be frustrating for viewers who were hoping to see more of the bear in action.

Ultimately, Cocaine Bear is a flawed but entertaining B-movie. The film's premise is undeniably wild, and the movie does deliver on some of its promises. However, the lack of suspense and expert exposition holds the film back from being a truly great addition to the horror-comedy genre.

If you're a fan of movies like Snakes on a Plane or Sharknado, then Cocaine Bear is worth checking out. However, if you're looking for a more polished or nuanced horror film, then this movie may not be for you. Regardless of your expectations, though, one thing is for sure: you've never seen a movie quite like Cocaine Bear before.