Director
Elizabeth Banks
(CHARLIE’S ANGELS, PITCH PERFECT 2)

Starring
Keri Russell, Alden Ehrenreich, Ray Liotta and O’Shea Jackson Jr.

When you hear ‘inspired by a true story’ followed by the title ‘Cocaine Bear’ a certain level of interest is naturally going to be piqued, but just how much of this tale of a coked up bear tearing humans to shreds is based in fact? The truth is, very little of it. This latest film from Elizabeth Banks is essentially a re-imagining or ‘what if?’ scenario if humans had have come into contact with a black bear that infamously ingested a large quantity of cocaine that was discarded by plane into a national forest in the US by a drug runner, rather than the sad reality that the bear just died as a result. The real story definitely doesn’t lend itself to a Hollywood film premise, this outrageous alternative of a bear going on a violent coke fueled rampage however certainly sets a scene.

With an array of familiar faces, Cocaine Bear is intent on keeping its story lively, weaving a number of well written characters with their individual reasons for being in the park into its story. From Norwegian backpackers taking in nature, pre-teen school ditchers trying to paint a waterfall, and the Mum hot on their tail, drug dealers trying to get back their missing merchandise (including Ray Liotta in his final completed film role) as well as the ever hilarious Park Ranger and State Forest Inspector played to scene stealing perfection by Margo Martindale and Jesse Tyler Ferguson respectively. The weaving of all of these characters (and a number of others) is done incredibly well to ensure that nothing gets too stale or repetitive. The only real gripe with the film is that it’s neither hilarious nor terrifying. It’s definitely trying to be more of a comedy, one however with an extreme level of gore, but the laughs aren’t exactly coming in thick and fast.  Arguably the funniest addition to a largely veteran cast is that of youngster Christian Convery, playing school-ditcher Henry. The naivety and hilarity of a 12 year old trying to big note himself to his friend by ‘doing cocaine’ the same way I used to do Milo…that is through shoving a giant spoonful of it straight into my mouth was particularly enjoyable.

Overall Cocaine Bear is by no means a bad film. Sure it’s silly, but I wouldn’t have expected any less. The problem is that it’s just not particularly good either. Just a popcorn flick that’s handy if you need to kill 90 minutes on a Friday night without having to think too hard.

Cocaine Bear is in cinemas now.