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An adaptation of Disney’s theme park show that possesses
the same animal characters, The Country Bears is a
road-trip comedy aimed at a young audience. The film, a mixture
of animatronics and veritable actors, falls short of making
the children’s movies’ hall of fame. Most of the humor passes
by a youthful audience throughout the first half of the film,
and problems associated with promoting a reunion tour may
prove too abstruse for younger children to follow. Consequently
the humorous implications thereof may be lost on them. Although
the dominant theme of self versus society can touch a chord
with all viewers, especially children, some of the subplots
seemed to me like unfinished dirges rather than complete,
toe-tapping inspirations.
Aspiring musician Beary Barrington ( Osment), a bear
adopted by a human family, feels misfitted, mainly due to
constant prodding by his obnoxious brother Dex ( Marienthal),
and despite attempts by his parents ( Fay and Tobolowsky)
to treat him normally. He runs away from home to seek his
idols, the disbanded Country Bears, in hopes of fitting in
with the music legends. Upon arrival, Beary discovers that
their old haunt is due for destruction, and that the Bears
have gone their separate ways. Driven to find his place in
the world, Beary’s save-the-day mentality propels the film
forward, inciting a reunion and family amends in the end.
On a side note, for some odd reason, Beary’s parents employ
two policemen, Officer Cheets and Officer Hamm ( Bader
and Mitchell) to apprehend their son’s imagined
kidnappers. Even though a running-away note was left behind
and Dex insists he knows his brother’s whereabouts, the fatuous
search for his trail continues. This subplot holds little
virtue besides a few extra laughs, none of which came from
me. At times it seems that the production crew of The
Country Bears were too intent on creating amazing animatronic
effects (which they succeeded in doing) rather than concentrating
on the direction of the film.
Although the movie starts off slow, it picks up after a
few of the heartening old bears join the bus trip to save
Country Bear Hall. Some highlights for kids include the physical
comedy-imbued car wash scene, mocking tributes to music videos,
and the armpit avenger scenario. Also, famous and respectable
musicians contribute a genuine embarrassment of cameos, including
Willie Nelson, Queen Latifah, Elton John,
Bonnie Raitt, Brian Setzer, Xzibit,
and Wyclef Jean, creating enjoyable moments for the
adults in the audience. Regardless of some of the mundane
aspects of the film, Disney definitely has a handle on reeling
in the star power and integrating music into their productions.
Props to Christopher Walken as Reed Thimple, the
overwrought banker nemesis of the country group with a suspicious
past who is out to destroy the hall. Of all the stars in this
movie, Walken is the only one that shines. On the whole the
movie is bearable for adults, slightly amusing for children,
but ultimately fails to leave an impression.
— Sandra Ogle
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While we would never encourage anyone to destroy a video... 
