Cocaine Bear

Release Date: February 24th, 2023
Directed by: Elizabeth Banks
Screenplay by: Jimmy Warden
Cast: Keri Russell, Alden Ehrenreich, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Ray Liotta, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Brooklynn Prince, Christian Convery, Margo Martindale, Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Elizabeth Banks’ latest directorial effort, following the quite disastrous Charlie’s Angels reboot, is so edgy and campy that it almost tires the viewer by the end. Loosely -very loosely- based on a true story, Cocaine Bear centers on a black bear who comes across a stash of cocaine, ends up ingesting it, and goes on a killing spree looking for more coke. If that sounds ridiculous, that’s because it is.

The film is barely over 90 minutes long, but it feels a bit longer due to its hit-or-miss gory humor. The campy gore is appreciated, but much of the edginess wears out quickly- the foul language humor loses its rebellious tone and eventually becomes a bit annoying, unless you’re a heavily-monitored teenager. If you’re one of those and are able to catch the movie, you might get a thrill.

Though the setup as to how everyone encounters the infamous bear is well done— the kids (Prince and Convery) skipping school, Russel setting out to find them, as well as Ehrenreich, Jackson and Liotta setting out to find their coke cargo, Margo Martindale’s performance is always a highlight. She’s playing a loser park ranger, who hasn’t been able to do anything beyond that because -according to her- the teenager punks who cause trouble in her area. She also has a crush on Ferguson’s character and gets humorously blocked by Russell as a third-wheel on their park search. I almost wished she could’ve had her own hero moment.

If you’re a fan of absurd fun, or a Sharknado or two, you might find some enjoyment in Cocaine Bear, but for most viewers, it will be a mixed experience. If you’ve already seen this one, why not top it off with a marathon that includes Cocaine Shark and The Velocipastor? At least those films embrace the over the top label fully.

Rating: