Review: Brother Bear (** 1/2)

BROTHER BEAR
A film review by Steve Rhodes

Copyright 2003 Steve Rhodes

RATING (0 TO ****): ** 1/2


Disney's latest movie, BROTHER BEAR, is a gorgeous picture that is its
prettiest traditionally animated movie since THE LION KING. Bursting with
stunning pastel colors, especially in the wide-open sequences, the film is a
visual delight. Thanks to some great new Phil Collins music and songs, one
of them sung by Tina Turner, the movie is also a feast for the ears.



And then there's the script by no less than five writers (Tab Murphy, Lorne
Cameron, David Hoselton, Steve Bencich and Ron J. Friedman). It's kind of
cute -- but just not cute enough. Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas voice the
parts of Rutt and Tuke, a pair of buffoon moose who get most the story's few
laughs. Rutt and Tuke are a comic duo who clearly want and deserve their
own movie.



The story, set in the Pacific Northwest just after the end of the last Ice
Age, concerns Kenai (voiced by Joaquin Phoenix), a Native American lad who
is going through the ceremony that leads to manhood. He's a headstrong
youth who ends up getting himself transformed into a bear. Jeremy Suarez
voices the part of Koda, the bear cub who becomes Kenai's comical sidekick.



Most of the story is basically recycled material. The movie wants us to
believe that its message is: "Love is very powerful," but most of the story
is devoted to Kenai learning that animals view hunters as monsters and that
killing animals is bad. Given the relative scarcity of corner grocery
stores 10,000 years ago, Kenai and the rest of his tribe would be hard
pressed to survive without hunting.



BROTHER BEAR runs 1:25. The film is rated G and would be acceptable for all
ages.



My niece Liana, age 6, laughed a lot during the movie. Her favorite
characters were Koda and the two moose. Her brother William, age 9, said
that he thought the movie was pretty good.



The film opens nationwide in the United States on Saturday, November 1,
2003. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC and the Century
theaters.



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