The Country Bears (2002)

Beary Barrington goes on an adventure to save Country Bear Hall by getting the Country Bears back together for a reunion concert.

Director:

Peter Hastings

Writer:

Mark Perez

Stars:

Haley Joel Osment, Diedrich Bader, Candy Ford

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Haley Joel Osment	...	Beary Barrington (voice)
Diedrich Bader	...	Officer Cheets / Ted Bedderhead (voice)
Candy Ford	...	Trixie St. Claire (voice)
James Gammon	...	Big Al (voice)
Brad Garrett	...	Fred Bedderhead (voice)
Toby Huss	...	Tennessee O'Neal (voice)
Kevin Michael Richardson	...	Henry Dixon Taylor (voice)
Stephen Root	...	Zeb Zoober (voice)
Christopher Walken	...	Reed Thimple
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Norbert Barrington
Daryl Mitchell	...	Officer Hamm (as Daryl 'Chill' Mitchell)
M.C. Gainey	...	Roadie
Alex Rocco	...	Rip Holland
Meagen Fay	...	Mrs. Barrington
Eli Marienthal	...	Dex Barrington

Storyline

Based on an attraction at Disneyland, the Country Bear Jamboree, this movie is one in a long line of live action Disney family films. The movie is a satire of "Behind the Music" rock and roll bands. Beary, a young bear raised by a human family in a world where humans and talking bears coexist, attempts to trace his roots. He meets up with the Country Bears, a long-since broken-up band, a parody of bands like the Eagles. Beary helps the Country Bears reunite for one final concert, while searching for who he truly is.

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Plot Keywords:

country music | car wash | police | bear | satire | 

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Taglines:

It's A Bear Getting The Family Together!

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Music | Musical

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the opening montage that pans through each of the bears and their roles in the band, it lists Tennessee as playing the "One String Thang". In the Country Bears Jamboree in Walt Disney World, Tennessee plays the same instrument.

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Goofs

When Fred is in the boat on the way to save the rest of the crew, he turns the corner the boat goes up on one wheel and the two extra wheels underneath that make the stunt possible are briefly visible.

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Quotes

Big Al: I'm chubby... but I'm quick!

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Crazy Credits

At the very end of the credits (before the after-credits scene), despite being a Walt Disney Pictures release, the copyright says Touchstone Pictures.

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Connections

References Crash Bash (2000)

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Soundtracks

Where Nobody Knows My Name
Written by Jimmy Tittle, John Hiatt
Produced by Glyn Johns
Performed by John Hiatt

User Reviews

Had its moments...

I personally do not think The Country Bears is that great, but I also don't think it is that bad either. I can think of worse movies that have a higher rating, but I can also think of better movies too. The Country Bears may have a lot of faults, that I agree, it does have its good points.

Let's start with the good points shall we? First and foremost, Christopher Walken seems to be really enjoying himself as the villain of the piece, he is deliciously theatrical and really breathes life into any shortcomings the film has. The soundtrack is also great, country-and-western music I can take or leave but it was used and performed very well here. Most of the cameos are pretty entertaining, it was nice to see Elton John, Willie Nelson and Queen Latifah, while the production values are good, Haley Joel Osment is appealing and the country bears of the title are convincingly played.

However, the film does have its shortcomings, starting with the length. The film is too short, and could have been longer with a little more detail to plot. I didn't mind the plot was simple, some of my favourite films have simple stories, but it is a predictable and rushed one with an ending you can smell a mile off. The script is also rather weak likewise with the jokes some of which were embarrassing(1812 Overture played with the arm-pits, what next?), the film is rushed I think and the direction is sloppy.

So overall, The Country Bears had its moments, and it is much better than the trailer which was embarrassing, but it wasn't enough to sustain into a good enough film. 5/10 Bethany Cox

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 July 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Bears

Filming Locations:

Franklin, Tennessee, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,309,675, 28 July 2002

Gross USA:

$16,990,825

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$18,012,097

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Pictures, Working Bear Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1