Common Sense Media Review
A dumb story about a bear adopted by humans.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
THE COUNTRY BEARS begins with some wit and style – a wood-burning credit sequence and "Behind the Music"-style clips about the beloved band's rise and fall. Their last series of concerts was called the "Hiber-Nation" tour. In a flashback, we learn the story of Beary (voice of Haley Joel Osment), a bear adopted by humans who runs away from home because he feels different. The Country Bears Hall is about to be torn down by wicked Reed Thimple (Christopher Walken). Beary decides and the only way to raise the money to keep it standing is to get the band back together.
Is It Any Good?
Less story than product placement, The Country Bears is based on a theme park attraction, but Disney World's robot bear performers just may have a better plot than this movie. This is basically "The Blues Brothers" with fur. But then it disintegrates into a dumb "get the band back together" story, as Beary reminds his former band mates about how close they all used to be..
Some surprising guest appearances by Elton John, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, and Queen Latifah (Raitt and Henley contribute singing voices) and some lively musical numbers by Disney label artists provide bright spots. But the in-between doses of silliness and syrup just dragged. The kids in the audience loved the scene with the policemen caught in the car wash, though.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how everyone feels different from the rest of the world at times, and how we make connections with those who are and who are not like us.
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 26, 2002
- On DVD or streaming : December 17, 2002
- Cast : Christopher Walken , Diedrich Bader , Haley Joel Osment
- Director : Peter Hastings
- Studio : Walt Disney Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along ) , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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