This is the must-see film of the winter season! Based on true events, the story starts with a criminal (Matthew Rhys) throwing duffle bags of cocaine out of a plane randomly landing in a national park in Tennessee. Two kids, (Brooklyn Prince) and Henry (Christian Convey) are skipping school to paint waterfalls in the national park. When the young girl’s mother Sari (Keri Russell), a nurse, finds out of their plan she sets out into the forest to track them down with the help of the forest ranger (Margo Martindale) and her man friend (Jesse Tyler Ferguson). Lurking about are three young men, Stache (Aaron Holliday), Vest (J.B. Moore) and Ponytail (Leo Hanna) all out to cause trouble among unsuspecting forest patrons.
No one knew about all the cocaine dropped throughout the forest except for the bad guys (Ray Liotta), (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) and (Alden Ehrenreich). The law did as well, Bob (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) and his faithful dog Rosetta along with Officer Reba (Ayoola Smart) since they found the guy that jumped out of the plane with the cocaine after his parachute did not open. Last but not least, the ambulance people (Kahyun Kim) and (Scott Seiss) who are out to save the day after hearing of a problem at the ranger station. Oh yes, not to forget the hikers in the beginning of the story Elsa (Hannah Hoekstra) and (Kristofer Hivju) her companion that experience the first encounter with a higher than a kite 500 pound apex predator black bear that is about to kill anyone it sees in order to keep the rest of the cocaine to itself.
You will find yourself laughing hysterical, screaming aloud yet at the same time jumping out of your seats from the gore and horrific situations while each and every one of the characters come face to face with the “Cocaine Bear”. Brilliantly directed and nicely written this film is absolutely awesome and will have you wanting more after it ends of which there are a few moments during the credits that you will want to see. As I walked out of the screening I listened to some comments by other critics and some of the audience that were in the theater with us and it was all “loved it”. Personally, I want to see it again! But, remember you have to take this film for what it is! A great night, not to be taken serious story on the big screen.
Hats off to the bear whether real or special effects because it was amazing. As for the cast it was great considering the film is supposed to be slapstick comedy and grotesque scenes that will have you screaming out loud. Ray Liotta’s last film and he was great in it. I have nothing bad to say about any of the actors they all did what they were suppose to, make the audience laugh and make them horrified from start to finish. If you want or need a good laugh and a bit of a scare then you have to see this movie. Thankfully the comments and situations that involved the dog Rosetta were all done in good taste with the knowledge to never leave your dog locked in a car alone.
