The Country Bears
Encyclopedia
The Country Bears is a 2002 American live-action comedy film
, produced by Walt Disney Pictures
, based on the Disney attraction Country Bear Jamboree
, and released July 26, 2002. It was Disney's third film based on an attraction at one of its
theme parks, following Tower of Terror
(1997) and Mission to Mars
(2000) and followed by Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
and The Haunted Mansion
(both 2003) and the last three Pirates of the Caribbean films
(2006, 2007, and 2011).
, singing voice by Elizabeth Daily
), a young bear raised by a human family in a world where humans and talking bears coexist, attempts to trace his roots. He meets up with the Country Bears, a long-since broken-up band, a parody of bands like the Eagles. Beary helps the Country Bears reunite for one final concert, while searching for who he truly is.
Thanks to Beary, the Country Bears realize how wrong they were to break up, which they did due to various petty arguments that escalated, and Beary returns home to his family who he realized truly do care about him, even his brother who somewhat bullies him. The Bears, after reading an essay Beary wrote about them decide to do the concert to save Country Bear Hall (Grizzly Hall), the place at which they used to perform, but refuse to do so without Beary who brought them back together.
They go to get him and his family, but while Ted Betterhead, the band leader who was the most reluctant to reunite is apologizing to Beary and explaining everything to him, Thimble (Christopher Walken
), the villain who wants to destroy Country Bear Hall, kidnaps the rest of the Bears.
Thanks to an idea from Dex, Beary's older brother Ted, Beary and Beary's family are able to track down and rescue the Bears and head to the concert together. Unfortunately the guy they hired to promote it was paid off by Thimble not to and didn't so it looks like they aren't going to be able to save the Hall after all. But then Big Al, the caretaker of the hall reveals that everyone was just out back and when he opens the door a massive amount of people rush in. The money from the concert is revealed to be enough to save the hall and the Bears perform the concert with Beary now as a member of the band.
as well as various locations in California.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0276033/locations
35 million, it grossed only $16,990,825 in the US
and an additional $1,021,272 overseas. The film was released on DVD and VHS in December 17, 2002. On Rotten Tomatoes
, the film only received a 26% positive rating. Film critic Roger Ebert
said "the formidable technical skills in The Country Bears must not be allowed to distract from the film's terminal inanity." Critic Sean O'Connell said of the film "Bears is bad. Not 'terrible filmmaking' bad, but more like, 'I once had a nightmare like this, and it's now coming true' bad." It had a few positive reviews but most criticized it for lacking entertaining acting or an enjoyable storyline.
Christopher Walken was nominated for a Razzie award for Worst Supporting Actor for his performance in the film.
Act ll
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
, produced by Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
, based on the Disney attraction Country Bear Jamboree
Country Bear Jamboree
The Country Bear Jamboree is an attraction at the Magic Kingdom in the Walt Disney World Resort and at Tokyo Disneyland in the Tokyo Disney Resort, as well as a former attraction at Disneyland Park. All versions of the attraction are similar....
, and released July 26, 2002. It was Disney's third film based on an attraction at one of its
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is the segment of The Walt Disney Company that conceives, builds, and manages the company's theme parks and holiday resorts, as well as a variety of additional family-oriented leisure enterprises...
theme parks, following Tower of Terror
Tower of Terror (film)
Tower of Terror is a 1997 made-for-TV supernatural thriller directed by D. J. MacHale. It is based on the theme park attraction, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, at Disney's Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida and was originally a presentation of The...
(1997) and Mission to Mars
Mission to Mars
Mission to Mars is a 2000 science fiction film directed by Brian De Palma from an original screenplay written by Jim Thomas, John Thomas, and Graham Yost. The film's story details a fictional portrayal of a manned Mars exploration mission gone awry in the year 2020...
(2000) and followed by Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a 2003 adventure fantasy film based on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney theme parks. It was directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
and The Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion (film)
The Haunted Mansion is a 2003 American comedy horror family film which is based on The Haunted Mansion attraction at Disney theme parks. The film is directed by Rob Minkoff, and stars Eddie Murphy, Terence Stamp, Jennifer Tilly, Marsha Thomason, and Nathaniel Parker...
(both 2003) and the last three Pirates of the Caribbean films
Pirates of the Caribbean (film series)
Pirates of the Caribbean is a series of fantasy-adventure films directed by Gore Verbinski and Rob Marshall , written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
(2006, 2007, and 2011).
Plot
Beary Barrington (Haley Joel OsmentHaley Joel Osment
Haley Joel Osment is an American actor. After a series of roles in television and film during the 1990s, including a small part in Forrest Gump playing Tom Hanks' title character’s son, Osment rose to fame with his performance as Cole Sear in M...
, singing voice by Elizabeth Daily
Elizabeth Daily
Elizabeth Ann Guttman , better known by her stage names of Elizabeth Daily and E.G. Daily, is an American voice actress, actress, singer-songwriter, and musician...
), a young bear raised by a human family in a world where humans and talking bears coexist, attempts to trace his roots. He meets up with the Country Bears, a long-since broken-up band, a parody of bands like the Eagles. Beary helps the Country Bears reunite for one final concert, while searching for who he truly is.
Thanks to Beary, the Country Bears realize how wrong they were to break up, which they did due to various petty arguments that escalated, and Beary returns home to his family who he realized truly do care about him, even his brother who somewhat bullies him. The Bears, after reading an essay Beary wrote about them decide to do the concert to save Country Bear Hall (Grizzly Hall), the place at which they used to perform, but refuse to do so without Beary who brought them back together.
They go to get him and his family, but while Ted Betterhead, the band leader who was the most reluctant to reunite is apologizing to Beary and explaining everything to him, Thimble (Christopher Walken
Christopher Walken
Christopher Walken is an American stage and screen actor. He has appeared in more than 100 movies and television shows, including Joe Dirt, Annie Hall, The Deer Hunter, The Prophecy trilogy, The Dogs of War, Sleepy Hollow, Brainstorm, The Dead Zone, A View to a Kill, At Close Range, King of New...
), the villain who wants to destroy Country Bear Hall, kidnaps the rest of the Bears.
Thanks to an idea from Dex, Beary's older brother Ted, Beary and Beary's family are able to track down and rescue the Bears and head to the concert together. Unfortunately the guy they hired to promote it was paid off by Thimble not to and didn't so it looks like they aren't going to be able to save the Hall after all. But then Big Al, the caretaker of the hall reveals that everyone was just out back and when he opens the door a massive amount of people rush in. The money from the concert is revealed to be enough to save the hall and the Bears perform the concert with Beary now as a member of the band.
Cast
- Haley Joel OsmentHaley Joel OsmentHaley Joel Osment is an American actor. After a series of roles in television and film during the 1990s, including a small part in Forrest Gump playing Tom Hanks' title character’s son, Osment rose to fame with his performance as Cole Sear in M...
as Beary Barrington (speaking voice) - E.G. Daily as Beary Barrington (singing voice)
- Kevin Michael RichardsonKevin Michael RichardsonKevin Michael Richardson is an American actor and voice actor who currently stars as Cleveland Brown, Jr. in The Cleveland Show...
as Henry Dixon Taylor - Christopher WalkenChristopher WalkenChristopher Walken is an American stage and screen actor. He has appeared in more than 100 movies and television shows, including Joe Dirt, Annie Hall, The Deer Hunter, The Prophecy trilogy, The Dogs of War, Sleepy Hollow, Brainstorm, The Dead Zone, A View to a Kill, At Close Range, King of New...
as Reed Thimple (former name "Benny Boggswaggle") - Diedrich BaderDiedrich BaderKarl Diedrich Bader , better known as Diedrich Bader, is an American actor, voice artist and comedian. Many know him for his roles as Oswald Lee Harvey on The Drew Carey Show, Lawrence from the film Office Space, the Tae Kwon Do instructor Rex from Napoleon Dynamite, Tank "Shredder" Evans in Surf's...
as Ted Bedderhead (speaking voice) / Officer Cheets - John HiattJohn HiattJohn Hiatt is an American rock guitarist, pianist, singer, and songwriter. He has played a variety of musical styles on his albums, including New Wave, blues and country. Hiatt has been nominated for several Grammy Awards - although he has never won- and has been awarded a variety of other...
as Ted Bedderhead (singing voice) - Daryl MitchellDaryl MitchellDaryl "Chill" Mitchell is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Dexter Walker on The John Larroquette Show, Leo Michaels on Veronica's Closet, and Eli Goggins on Ed....
as Officer Hamm - Brad GarrettBrad GarrettBradley "Brad" Garrett is an American actor, voice actor, stand-up comedian, and professional poker player. Throughout he has appeared in numerous television and film roles....
as Fred Bedderhead - Stephen RootStephen RootStephen Root is an American actor. He is best known for his comedic work on the TV sitcom NewsRadio, in the film Office Space and as the voice of Bill Dauterive and Buck Strickland in the animated series King of the Hill...
as Zeb Zoober - Toby HussToby HussToby Edward Huss is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Artie, the Strongest Man in the World on the cult hit Nickelodeon TV series The Adventures of Pete & Pete, for his voice-over work on the long running animated series King of the Hill, and for his role as Felix 'Stumpy'...
as Tennessee O'Neal (speaking voice) - Don HenleyDon HenleyDonald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
as Tennessee O'Neal (singing voice) - Candy FordCandy FordCandy Ford is an American television actress, best known for starring in the sketch comedy, The Rerun Show, Ford has also appeared in other TV programs including: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Will & Grace, and she provide voicework for the Law & Order videogame, and starred on the short-lived NBC sketch...
as Trixie St. Claire (speaking voice) - Bonnie RaittBonnie RaittBonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
as Trixie St. Claire (singing voice) - M. C. GaineyM. C. GaineyMichael Connor "Mike" Gainey , better known as M. C. Gainey, is an American film and television actor whose distinctive mustache, 6'2½" height, and threatening look have given him supporting roles as Southern/Southwestern types, thugs, and criminals.Gainey attended the University of Southern...
as Roadie - James GammonJames GammonJames Richard Gammon was an American actor, known for playing grizzled "good ol' boy" types in numerous films and television series.-Early life:...
as Big Al (cameo) - Stephen TobolowskyStephen TobolowskyStephen Harold Tobolowsky is an American actor. He is well known for his role as Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day, as well as portraying Commissioner Hugo Jarry in Deadwood for nine episodes and Bob Bishop in Heroes for eleven episodes over the second and third seasons...
as Mr. Norbert Barrington - Meagen FayMeagen FayMeagen Fay is an American actress.A native of Chicago, in the early 1980s Fay was a featured cast member at The Second City. Her first television role was in the 1987 television series Ohara....
as Mrs. Barrington - Eli MarienthalEli MarienthalEli David Marienthal is an American former child actor.-Personal life:Marienthal was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Lola Marienthal, who manufactures bags made of organically grown cotton, and Joseph Cross, a journalist. Marienthal is Jewish and has two siblings, actors Harley Cross...
as Dexter "Dex" Barrington - Alex RoccoAlex RoccoAlex Rocco is an American actor. His roles have ranged from comedy to playing gangsters in Mafia movies.-Early life:...
as Rip Holland - Willie NelsonWillie NelsonWillie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
as himself (cameo) - Queen LatifahQueen LatifahDana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
as Cha-Cha (cameo) - Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
as himself (cameo)
Musical numbers
- "I'm Only In It for the Honey"
- "Where Nobody Knows My Name"
- "Straight to the Heart of Love"
- "Bear Mountain Hop"
- "Kick It Into Gear"
- "The Kid in You"
- "Let It Ride"
- "Just The Goin"
- "Can love stand the test"
Filming
It was filmed in Franklin, TennesseeFranklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
as well as various locations in California.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0276033/locations
Reception
The film was a flop; budgeted at US$United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
35 million, it grossed only $16,990,825 in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and an additional $1,021,272 overseas. The film was released on DVD and VHS in December 17, 2002. On Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, the film only received a 26% positive rating. Film critic Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
said "the formidable technical skills in The Country Bears must not be allowed to distract from the film's terminal inanity." Critic Sean O'Connell said of the film "Bears is bad. Not 'terrible filmmaking' bad, but more like, 'I once had a nightmare like this, and it's now coming true' bad." It had a few positive reviews but most criticized it for lacking entertaining acting or an enjoyable storyline.
"Despite all the celebrities on hand, this spin-off from a theme park attraction still feels tired and hokey." -Rotten Tomatoes
Christopher Walken was nominated for a Razzie award for Worst Supporting Actor for his performance in the film.
Musical Numbers
Act l- Let It Ride - Ted, Zeb, Fred, Tennessee and Company
- Where Nobody Knows My Name - Beary
- Straight to the Heart of Love - Dex, Norbert, Ted, Fred, Tennessee, Zeb
- I'm Only In It For the Money - Zeb, Trixie and Company
- The Kid in You - Beary, Henry, Rip, Big Al, Roadie, Ensemble
- Car Wash - Rip, Cha-Cha, Officer Hamm, Officer Cheets
- I Wanna Get Next To You - Beary and Company
- Born to Love You - Norbert, Mrs. Barrington, Dex
- I'm Going Down - Henry, Roadie
- Do Your Dance - Beary, Fred, Ted, Company
- Ooh Boy - The Country Bears and Ensemble
- Wishing On A Star - Big Al, Henry, Beary, Trixie, Tennessee, Fred, Zeb and Ted
Act ll
- Kick It Into Gear - Henry, Beary and Company
- Can Love Stand The Test - Tennessee, Trixie
- The Magic Touch - Officer Hamm, Officer Cheets and Cha-Cha
- I'm In Love - Dex, Norbert, Mrs. Barrington
- And I Love the Feeling - Fred, Zeb, Ted, Officer Hamm, Officer Cheets
- Love Don't Live Here Anymore - Trixie, Beary, Ensemble
- Is It Love You're After - Tennessee
- Pop Your Fingers - Dex, Norbert, Mrs. Barrington, Fred
- Golden Touch - Henry and Beary
- And You Wish for Yesterday - Trixie, Cha-Cha, Rip, Big Al
- Would You Please Be Mind - Roadie and Company
- Lonely Road - Company
- Just The Goin - Beary, Dex, Henry, Mrs. Barrington, Norbert and Company
- Bear Mountain Hop - The Company