Brother Bear Movie Review 2003

Rather grim but ultimately heartwarming coming-of-ager invoking the far superior "The Lion King," and "Bambi." Kenai (Phoenix) is a brash Native American youth living with his two brothers in the Pacific Northwest during the end of the Ice Age. After a bear attacks and kills his brother Sitka (Sweeney), Kenai is magically transformed into a bear himself. In his new hirsute form, Kenai learns some important lessons about nature with the help of orphaned bear cub Koda (Suarez). Much needed but underdeveloped comic relief comes from Thomas and Moranis as a pair of bickering moose. Largely hand-drawn animation is lushly beautiful but overshadowed by derivative plot and heavy-handed message. Lackluster score by soft pop-meister Phil Collins.

Distribution

Not Yet Released

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 85 minutes.
Originally from United States.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Disney Animated Movies, Bears, Native America, Wilderness, Brothers & Sisters

Screenplay

Tab Murphy, Lorne Cameron, David Hoselton, Steve Bencich, Ron J. Friedman

Director

Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker

Music

Phil Collins, Mark Mancina

Other

Joaquin Rafael (Leaf) Phoenix, Jeremy Suarez, Jason Raize, Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas, D.B. Sweeney, Joan Copeland, Michael Clarke Duncan, Harold Gould, Estelle Harris, Tim Mertens, Robh Ruppel

Producer

Studio Ghibli, Walt Disney Pictures, Buena Vista