‘Bears’ Movie Review: Nature gets melodramatic and slapstick humor in latest from Disneynature
Disneynature is back with another nature documentary, this time centering on bears. Simply titled “Bears,” the film follows a grizzley mother nicknamed Sky and her two cubs (Amber and Scout) during a long journey following the birth of the two cubs.
Sky’s journey in the Alaskan wilderness with her cubs Scout and Amber is as harrowing jaunt with narration by John C. Reilly. The G-rated film is packed full of beautiful, sometimes breathtaking, visuals in between facts and interjection from our narrator.
Nature documentary veterans Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey showcase the whimsical side of their protagonist with the cubs providing comic relief.
Starvation is an imminent reality, and foes, including a cannibal-minded outcast bear, roam the countryside. The trio journeys across the Alaskan landscape to the great salmon breeding ground to gorge themselves on fish and fatten up for the upcoming hibernation.
The family friendly films offers few facts as challenging as the cable nature shows and the commentary becomes increasingly tedious as the film drones along. In fact, misleading facts and some deceptive editing keep the focus right where Disney filmmakers want it – on the children.
Most of the film compares the bears’ behavior to human behavior with burlesque music playing as a male chase a female bear or having Reilly crack jokes on their behalf.
Fothergill was much more successful with the storytelling “Chimpanzee,” still the best of the recent Disneynature documentaries, as “Bears” is a pretty bland film for the adults.
Overall “Bears” receives 1 1/2 out of 5 stars