Reviewed by: Joe

Directed by: Peter Hastings

Produced by: Andrew Gunn & Jeffrey Chernov

Cast: Haley Joel Osment, Christopher Walken, Diedrich Bader, Julianne Buescher, & Charles S. Dutton

Released: July 26, 2002

Kids/Family and Comedy 1 hr. 28 min. Beary is a ten-year-old cub who is raised by a human family unaware that he is adopted until his jealous brother tells him. When Beary leaves home to find out where he belongs, he's led to the Country Bear Hall in Tennessee and befriends the now defunct band, the Country Bears. The once successful and highly influential 1970s band, reunite for a benefit concert.

The Country Bears is one of the most unoriginal feature films of the year and quite a disappointing start to Disney’s theme park feature rollout. There is little to compliment this film, though one can make the argument about the music. The songs themselves, for the most part, were catchy and get your foot tapping every now and then but if you want to go for the music then just go to the local store and buy the soundtrack. The main problem with the musical numbers, though, is the feeling that they are too staged. Someone in the course of the film would utter a one line comment and then suddenly the entire cast would brake out into a song and dance number. Outside of Christopher Walken and some of the songs, The Country Bears leaves little to the imagination.

Note that the film is intended for children and thus this review may be meaningless to them. Take this into consideration when taking the children to the film. But if you are a parent and hate to be dragged to this then follow my suggestion: Sit back, relax, pay attention when Christopher Walken comes on screen, tap your foot to some of the music and thank God that they didn't make an It's A Small World movie.