The movie “Cocaine Bear” is based on a true story from the 1980s where an American black bear overdosed on a bag of cocaine dumped by drug smugglers. The film, written by Jimmy Warden and directed by Elizabeth Banks, uses this loose framework to tell a zany story of what transpired with the coked-up bear in the woods. Rather than a straightforward horror-comedy rampage, Banks employs tonal juxtaposition to turn grounded character stories into comedic payoffs.
Despite the potential for human characters to be mere bear fodder, Banks manages to lock down an impressive cast, including Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Margo Martindale, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and the late Ray Liotta. Each talented actor is given an actual dramatic story arc, adding to the fun of the movie.
Cocaine Bear manages to find humor in the human stories that begins the film
The movie’s true fun lies in watching faux-dramatic human stories play out before the arrival of the coke-raged, killer bear. Some actors, such as Russell, Whitlock, and Rhys, chew the scenery in the best way, while others, like Ehrenreich, Jackson, and Liotta, ham it up in a family-based story about cocaine dealers. All of these storylines are played like bad indie movies. But when the bear arrives, the drama is swiped right out of the picture in favor of comedic hijinks and gory kills.
Overall, “Cocaine Bear” is a simple and silly fulfillment of its titular premise. It is likely to become a cult hit with its many memorable moments. While it’s not necessary to see it in theaters, the crowd experience can add to the fun, especially at a matinee price.
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