If you’re looking for a movie that delivers on its outrageous premise, look no further than Cocaine Bear 2023, the latest horror comedy from director Elizabeth Banks. Based on a true story, the movie follows the aftermath of a drug smuggler’s plane crash in the Georgia woods, where a black bear stumbles upon a stash of cocaine and becomes addicted to it. What ensues is a bloody rampage of the bear as it encounters various characters who are either looking for the drugs, hiking in the forest, or trying to stop the beast.
Cocaine Bear 2023 is not a movie that takes itself too seriously. It knows what it is and what it needs to do: entertain the audience with a mix of gore, humor, and absurdity. The movie is full of hilarious moments, such as the bear’s reaction to snorting cocaine for the first time, the bear’s encounter with a group of clueless teenagers, and the bear’s showdown with a drug kingpin played by the late Ray Liotta. The movie also pays homage to several horror and comedy classics, such as Jaws, Evil Dead, Fargo, and Snakes on a Plane.
The movie also boasts an impressive cast of actors who seem to be having a blast with their roles. Keri Russell plays Sari, a single mom who is looking for her daughter Dee Dee (Brooklynn Prince), who has skipped school with her friend Henry (Christian Convery) to explore the woods. Russell brings a lot of heart and courage to her character, who has to face not only the bear but also her own personal demons. Alden Ehrenreich and O’Shea Jackson Jr. play Eddie and Daveed, two drug dealers who are sent by Liotta’s character to retrieve the cocaine. They have great chemistry and provide some of the funniest lines in the movie. Margo Martindale plays a park ranger who has a crush on a wildlife specialist played by Jesse Tyler Ferguson. They have some sweet and awkward moments together as they try to warn people about the bear. And of course, there is the bear itself, which is brought to life by motion capture and CGI from Weta FX. The bear is both terrifying and hilarious, as it displays human-like emotions and behaviors while under the influence of cocaine.
Cocaine Bear 2023 is not a perfect movie. It has some flaws, such as some uneven pacing, some underdeveloped characters, and some cheesy effects. But it doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be fun. And fun it is. Cocaine Bear 2023 is a stupidly entertaining horror comedy that will keep you grinning from ear to ear from start to finish.
If you want to see Cocaine Bear 2023 for yourself, you can watch the trailer or check out the IMDb page. The movie is rated R for language throughout, bloody violence, drug use, and some sexual content. It is currently playing in theaters nationwide.
