The Country Bears (2002)
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30% of critics liked it
(80 reviews) -
39% of users liked it
(10,416 ratings)
This family musical enjoys the dubious distinction of being the first film ever based on a theme park attraction, the "Country Bears Jamboree" at Disneyworld. Beary Barrington (voice of Haley Joel Osment) is an adolescent bruin raised by a human family after he was found by a park ranger,… More This family musical enjoys the dubious distinction of being the first film ever based on a theme park attraction, the "Country Bears Jamboree" at Disneyworld. Beary Barrington (voice of Haley Joel Osment) is an adolescent bruin raised by a human family after he was found by a park ranger, abandoned in the forest. Curious about his biological roots, Beary travels to Tennessee to seek out his birth parents while attempting to locate the members of his favorite musical group -- a defunct country music act called the Country Bears -- along the way. Country Bear Hall, the famed venue where the band was launched, is facing imminent destruction at the hands of greedy banker Reed Thimple (Christopher Walken), but young Beary has a plan to save the hall by staging a reunion benefit concert. Beary's path takes him through a guitar duel, a vintage coffee house, and a car wash, as he's pursued by a pair of bumbling cops (Diedrich Bader and Daryl "Chill" Mitchell) trying to reunite him with his adoptive parents. Meanwhile, a panoply of musical legends including Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John, and Queen Latifah appear Behind the Music-style to comment on the Country Bears' alleged artistic influence on their work. The Country Bears, the first in a pair of planned Disney projects based on the company's theme park rides (the second is slated to be based on "Pirates of the Caribbean"), co-stars Stephen Tobolowsky, Brad Garrett, Alex Rocco, and Stephen Root. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Directed By
- Peter Hastings
- Written By
- Mark Perez, Paul Rugg
- Genres
- Comedy, Kids & Family
G,
- In Theaters
- Jul 26, 2002 Wide
- Studio
- Buena Vista Distribution Compa
Critic Reviews
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Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
It's mildly amusing, but I certainly can't recommend it.
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Michael Atkinson, Village Voice
This ingrown mutant is easily the most bizarre children's film made in this country since 1982's lab-rat apocalypse The Secret of NIMH.
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Joe Leydon, Variety
Pic as a whole is a gently and genuinely amusing treat that should bring smiles to target auds.
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Desson Thomson, Washington Post
If you're looking to take your children to something harmless, that doesn't embarrass anyone, this light comedy ... is your next outing.
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Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
So awkward, so leaden, so virtually laugh-free that it's guaranteed to bring down the Happy Meals it's being marketed with.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Christopher Walken
as Reed Thimple
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Stephen Tobolowsky
as Norbert Barrington
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Daryl Mitchell
as Officer Hamm
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M.C. Gainey
as Roadie
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Diedrich Bader
as Officer Cheets, Ted Bedderhead
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Alex Rocco
as Rip Holland
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Meagen Fay
as Mrs. Barrington
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Eli Marienthal
as Dex Barrington
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Queen Latifah
as Cha-Cha
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Krystal Marie Harris
as Herself
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Don Henley
as Himself
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Wyclef Jean
as Himself
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Elton John
as Himself
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Willie Nelson
as Himself
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Bonnie Raitt
as Herself
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Brian Setzer
as Himself
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Don Was
as Himself
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Xzibit
as Xzibit
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Haley Joel Osment
as Beary Barrington
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Candy Ford
as Trixie St. Clair
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James Gammon
as Big Al
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Brad Garrett
as Fred Bedderhead
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Toby Huss
as Tennessee O'Neal
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Kevin Michael Richardson
as Henry Dixon Taylor
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Stephen Root
as Zeb Zoober
- Charles S. Dutton
- Richard Kind
- John Hiatt
- Julianne Buescher
- Brian La Rosa
