The Country Bears

2002 "It's A Bear Getting The Family Together!"
4.2| 1h28m| G| en| More Info
Released: 26 July 2002 Released
Producted By: Walt Disney Pictures
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Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://movies.disney.com/the-country-bears
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For Beary Barrington, The Country Bears' young #1 fan, fitting in with his all-too-human family is proving im-paws-ible. When he runs away to find Country Bear Hall and his heroes, he discovers the venue that made them famous is near foreclosure. Beary hightails it over the river and through the woods to get the Bears in the Band back together for an all-out reunion concert to save Country Bear Hall.

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Director

Peter Hastings

Production Companies

Walt Disney Pictures

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The Country Bears Audience Reviews

Raetsonwe Redundant and unnecessary.
Sexyloutak Absolutely the worst movie.
Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
Jackson Booth-Millard I remember seeing the poster for this film while I was on holiday in America, specifically in Orlando, Florida, where of course Disney World is, the film is based on the famous attraction Country Bear Jamboree, I decided to watch and see what I'd make of this film. Basically in a world where humans and talking bears co-exist, The Country Bears were a successful all-bear country rock band until they broke up in 1991, optimistic bear cub Beary Barrington (Haley Joel Osment) has been raised by a human family and still idolises the band. Greedy banker Reed Thimple (Christopher Walken) is threatening to tear down Country Bear Hall, the former concert hall of the Country Bears, Beary decides to run away from home to find all members of the Country Bears to reform them and perform a comeback benefit concert to raise "20,000 needed to save the hall. One by one Beary, with bus driver and drummer Roadie (Lost's M.C. Gainey), they track down all band members: harmonica and electric bass player Fred Bedderhead (Brad Garrett), fiddler Zeb Zoober (Stephen Root), one-string guitar player Tennessee O'Neal (Toby Huss) and lead singer and guitarist Ted Bedderhead (Diedrich Bader). Each members is initially reluctant to reunite and take part in a concert, but they are persuaded by Beary and admiration for them, and of course the threatening of the closure of their hall. In the end, after the road trip on the bus to bring them all together, and some trouble along the way from police officers Officer Cheets (Diedrich Bader) and Officer Hamm (Daryl Mitchell) looking for Beary along the way, the Country Bears, joined by musically talented Beary, perform a show to an adoring crowd and raise the money to save the hall. Also starring Stephen Tobolowsky as Norbert Barrington, Alex Rocco as Rip Holland, Meagen Fay as Mrs. Barrington, American Pie's Eli Marienthal as Dex Barrington, Candy Ford as Trixie St. Claire, James Gammon as Big Al, Kevin Michael Richardson as Henry Dixon Taylor, and cameos from Elton John, Willie Nelson, Queen Latifah as Cha-Cha, "Crush" singer Jennifer Paige as Waitress, Krystal Marie Harris, Wyclef Jean and Xzibit. Only Walken is perhaps worth mentioning in terms of acting in this, he's okay, the special effects to bring the slightly unconvincing talking bears to life is reasonable, and the story is simple, about love, friendship and loyalty, there is some alright music along the way, it is let down by daft attempts at humour and feeling highly predictable, but the family can all sit down and relax with this alright musical comedy. Okay!
GrandpaBunche ..is that it contains the indelible sight of Christopher Walken performing "The 1812 Overture" via armpit farts — yes, you read that right — for a captive audience of bipedal, talking redneck bears. And Walken is joined in this bit of lysergic lunacy by no less than Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Alex Rocco, Willie Nelson (!!!) Wyclef jean and Brian Setzer, so it's simply got one brain-trampling moment after another. Yeah, I know it's a kid's film, but what kids were clamoring to see this? Was it made as a tax write-off? But even with those burning questions in mind, it's certainly a truly bad movie, but I sat through it in a state of greatly amused slack-jawed disbelief, so I say see it. Preferably girded with a couple of sixers of beer.
apparition The Country Bears is a truly unique movie, and it can be a very pleasant experience watching it, for those with an open mind. The entire movie is based on the premise that bears co-exist with humans - they are simply like another race of people. From numerous other reviews I have read of this movie, it seems many people are offended by this simple premise. Perhaps it is insulting to them, or maybe they just can't deal with things out of the ordinary such as this. It's definitely a shame, as this movie is actually a rare gem, complete with lovable characters, fun music, and an engaging and heartwarming plot.The movie begins showing us the farewell performance of a group called "The Country Bears". They were once apparently very famous, but have now all but disappeared. Beary Barrington, a huge fan, feeling displaced from his family because he feels 'different', leaves home and travels to Country Bear Hall, hoping to find a place where he fits in. He soon finds Country Bear Hall is soon to be demolished, due to six years of missed payments by it's caretaker, Henry. Beary's solution is to get the band back together to save Country Bear Hall.What follows is an enjoyable romp as we meet each of the 4 unique band members and their interesting circumstances. Fred is big softy who works as a security guard, and takes part in a performance of a very modern song titled "The Kid in You", which perhaps may not appeal to everyone. Zeb is ultimately an alcoholic, although his liquor of choice is honey. To escape from his debt with the bar, he performs in a musical duel, which is a lot of fun. Next we meet Tennessee, who is heartbroken over losing his one love Trixie. He just makes you want to give him a huge hug every time he's on screen. Finally we meet Ted, who's massive ego nearly stops the bears from coming together again. Two bumbling cops provide lots of humour, as does the hilarious bear character Big Al.Characters are definitely the highlight of this film. Each of the bears are different, and watching their behaviour is so refreshing. They make you want to be right there on the tour bus with them. The ending of the movie is perfect, but it is a strangely sad feeling to have to leave the characters and come back to reality.My thoughts of this movie are the complete opposite to the majority of other reviews out there. Ebert's review suggests to me that he barely even paid any attention to the movie - he doesn't seem to understand why Reed Thimple would want to destroy Country Bear Hall, even though it was clearly explained in the movie. He also says that certain artists such as Bonnie Raitt talk about how The Country Bears influenced them, and while this is true for some artists, Bonnie Raitt does no such thing, nor does Elton John. Why critics couldn't appreciate this film is beyond me. It has strong messages of what family is, and that it's OK to be different. It's just fantastic, and deserves much more recognition than it has. We need more movies like this, but unfortunately the poor reception of this movie will mean Disney avoids making movies like this in the future.Do yourself a favour; rent this movie, or even buy it. Don't question why it's about singing bears, otherwise you're missing the point of the movie. Just enjoy the originality, enjoy the great music, laugh at the comedy, and leave the movie with a shining feeling that not many movies these days can give you.
Howlin Wolf ... The contempt that I feel is my due after the lame punning of that summary (and believe me, that's quite a lot!) is NOTHING compared to the absolute unbridled contempt I hold for this movie... Now, I hate country music in general - always have; but bears? Eh, never really had a problem with 'em, since I've never stood in the way of a pot of honey, or roughed it alone in the woods with only a sleeping bag for protection...Now I got a beef with bears *big time*... !!!!!!!! I don't care if I've never seen any 'real life' bears stage a rock concert; the pure awfulness of this movie has taught me the best course of action should I ever do: Nail those suckers with a 12-gauge... Do something for me, people; I don't care how - but find the gauche 40yr old 'mummys boy' who had the brainwave that he knew what the kids wanted, and it was this - find him, and smear honey all over his favourite body parts while I fetch Mr. Grizzly... It's the only way he and people like him will learn... Trust me, not only am I gracefully telling you to skip this; but you don't want the horror that would be "The Country Bears 2"... It truly boggles my mind that there must be some people out there who actually thought this might work... !!I'm sure most of you reading have been to a theme-park, right??! Well then, you know of the 'sideshows' I am about to refer to. The ones where the stench of meat that is overcooked or undercooked - but never 'just right' - hangs thick in the air... Where parents take their cranky kids in hope of a brief respite after the children have just been sick following a massive sugar overdose. Does the sight of minimum wagers baking in a fur suit under the hot sun USUALLY make them feel better? No??! Well, my take is that most normal people won't even need the help of popcorn for them to throw up in a nice air-conditioned theatre if THIS is playing on screen! Hello???! - if THIS is 'live-action', then why have I seen better for loose change at times when the carnival has ridden into town???! Disney are really taking liberties this time, they don't even bother to dress the filthy stinking hobo in gents clothing...Yes, I know it's a kids movie; but that's not even approaching any kind of viable excuse. It's already somewhat tarnished the reputation of ONE child star, merely by association... Careful Haley, or by the time you're a veteran in this business you'll have no qualms about demeaning yourself for money. Just ask Christopher Walken...Kids; adults; bacterium - this THING is not fit to be in the company of any of 'em... !