Review: 'Cocaine Bear' takes true story, twists it for mayhem and laughs

George M. Thomas, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read
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An inquisitive bear gets hold of a wayward drug shipment and runs amok in "Cocaine Bear."
An inquisitive bear gets hold of a wayward drug shipment and runs amok in "Cocaine Bear."
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For anyone who endured and enjoyed any number of ’80s-era B movies, “Cocaine Bear” will feel very familiar.

It’s schlocky in a good kind of way, in that the brain can be checked at the box office and it’s possible to revel in the absurdity of it all. Or is it so absurd?

Akron native Mark Mothersbaugh lends '80s sensibilities to 'Cocaine Bear' soundtrack

Not necessarily. “Cocaine Bear” is based on the true story of a Tennessee bruin who finds a wayward shipment of coke, partakes of it and dies in 1985. The animal currently sits somewhere stuffed and on display at the Kentucky Fun Mall in Lexington, according to a report.

It’s the kind of story that’s perfect for taking to ridiculous heights, and it fits in the wheelhouse of producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (“The Lego Movie”) with a sensibility for director Elizabeth Banks to take Jimmy Ward’s subversive script and just play it for every bloody, vulgar laugh that can be drained from the scenario.

Whether many laughs exist will depend on the viewer's perspective, but there were a few moments where it was impossible to not laugh.

From left, Daveed (O’Shea Jackson, Jr.), Officer Reba (Ayoola Smart), Eddie (Alden Ehrenreich) and Syd (Ray Liotta) in "Cocaine Bear."
From left, Daveed (O’Shea Jackson, Jr.), Officer Reba (Ayoola Smart), Eddie (Alden Ehrenreich) and Syd (Ray Liotta) in "Cocaine Bear."

In this case, a bear finds the shipment of a drug dealer who parachuted with it and his duffel bag only to not have his chute open. The bear goes snow blind and goes on a killing spree as a group of inept criminals attempt to track the cocaine down. Yes, that’s really the plot.

Then there are the locals who find themselves on the menu as the bear rampages on.

Banks has assembled a cast that includes Ray Liotta in one of his final performances, Alden Ehrenreich, Keri Russell, Margo Martindale and O’Shea Jackson Jr.

From left, Daveed (O’Shea Jackson, Jr.), Eddie (Alden Ehrenreich), Officer Reba (Ayoola Smart) and Syd (Ray Liotta) in “Cocaine Bear,” directed by Elizabeth Banks.
From left, Daveed (O’Shea Jackson, Jr.), Eddie (Alden Ehrenreich), Officer Reba (Ayoola Smart) and Syd (Ray Liotta) in “Cocaine Bear,” directed by Elizabeth Banks.

It’s a sendup of B movies, and Banks realizes she’s not exactly working with Shakespeare. The cast is all in, and each of them receives their moment to shine in the mayhem, especially Martindale, who revels in her role as a park ranger.

It’s a movie akin to “Snakes on a Plane,” where the title proves ultimately to be better than the sum of its parts.

George M. Thomas dabbles in movies and television for the Beacon Journal. Reach him at gthomas@thebeaconjournal.com.

A inquisitive bear gets ahold of a wayward drug shipment and runs amok in "Cocaine Bear."
A inquisitive bear gets ahold of a wayward drug shipment and runs amok in "Cocaine Bear."

Review

Movie: “Cocaine Bear”

Cast: Alden Ehrenreich, Keri Russell, Ray Liotta, Margo Martindale

Directed by: Elizabeth Banks

Running time: 1 hour, 35 minutes

Rated: R for bloody violence and gore, drug content and language throughout

Grade: B-

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Review: 'Cocaine Bear' offers a few laughs, scant plot