A while back the trailer for Cocaine Bear came on when I was at my local Cineworld and it looked bonkers, what made it even crazier was that Cocaine Bear is based on a true story that happened in the mid-1980s, so today I headed to the cinema to check out this new movie that has been directed by Elizabeth Banks.
As I mentioned Cocaine Bear is based on the true story of a drug runner that drops all his cargo of cocaine out of his plane when his plane is going to crash, but in a twist of pure craziness a black bear finds the drugs and goes on a rampage for more of the white powder while attacking people while on its coke-fueled rampage.
Cocaine Bear is certainly a movie that lives up to its trailer, I thought the trailer was bonkers but the movie certainly had me laughing rather loudly throughout the runtime of the movie. As expected from the content of the movie it certainly suits its 15 certificate with some rather bloody scenes and several F-Bombs that strangely come from one the of kids that are lost in the woods and hiding from the bear that steals the movie.
I have to say that I’ve been enjoying Elizabeth Banks‘ directing recently and this movie is another one for Banks to chalk up that looks good, the great outdoors is shot nicely with some great scenes of the landscape shots and great set-up shots for the Bear to cause its mayhem and carnage.
The comedy in the movie works very well and I wasn’t the only one at my screening that was laughing to scenes that you probably shouldn’t laugh at for the gore, but damn they are moments where you just can’t help yourself.
Besides the Cocaine Bear that dominates its screen time, the cast are great. For me, Christian Convery (Sweet Tooth, Playing With Fire) who plays Henry is a right scene stealer, he has some brilliant lines which several including those F-Bombs.
It’s also worth pointing out that Cocaine Bear is the last film with Ray Liotta who sadly passed away in May 2022, it’s great to see him on the big screen again and although his role is short he brings that Goodfellas style to his performance and I enjoyed every moment. Liotta is joined by Alden Ehrenreich (Solo) playing his son and O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Daveed as they search for the dumped Cocaine.
As Cocaine Bear is set in the 80s you would expect a good 80s music and the soundtrack not only features tracks from Jefferson Starship, Depeche Mode and Pusha T, but it also has some fantastic incidental music from the great Mark Mothersbaugh, many will know Mothersbaugh from video games and for Thor: Ragnarok and Wes Anderson films such as Rushmore and The Royal Tennenbaums to name but a few.
If you fancy a movie that is completely bonkers and will certainly bring a few smiles to your face then this is certainly a movie you will want to check out, for me it’s been the best movie for laughs that I’ve seen at the cinema so far.
Cocaine Bear is everything that I was hoping for from the trailer and so much more, check out the movie at your local cinema.
Totally Bonkers and Sooooo Much Fun
Movie title: Cocaine Bear (2023)
Movie description: An oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converge on a Georgia forest where a huge black bear goes on a murderous rampage after unintentionally ingesting cocaine.
Date published: February 24, 2023
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 35m
Director(s): Elizabeth Banks
Actor(s): Keri Russell, Alden Ehrenreich, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Ray Liotta
Genre: Comedy, Thriller
Summary
Cocaine Bear is as bonkers as the trailer makes out, but damn it’s so much fun. I’ve not laughed so much in ages!
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
