Brother Bear 2
Year: 2006
Director: Ben Gluck
Starring: Patrick Dempsey, Mandy Moore & Jeremy Suarez
Runtime: 73 mins
BBFC: U
Published: 15/08/22
Director: Ben Gluck
Starring: Patrick Dempsey, Mandy Moore & Jeremy Suarez
Runtime: 73 mins
BBFC: U
Published: 15/08/22
Brother Bear is one of Disney’s most underappreciated Post-Renaissance films and one of the studio’s final 2D Animated Classics. A good film by any metric, but Brother Bear did tend to play it a little safe which likely played a role in it fading into the background of the at the tie crowded animated film market. By no means a commercial failure, Disney were quick to greenlight a sequel to Brother Bear, but handed the responsibility over to DisneyToon Studios for a direct to DVD release.
Kenai (Patrick Dempsey) and Koda (Jeremy Suarez) have just woken from hibernation several months after the events of the original film. Kenai has been plagued by visions of his childhood friend Nita (Mandy Moore) almost drowning. Meanwhile a now adult Nita is getting married, however the great spirits will not allow the marriage to take place because of a union she created with Kenai as children. Nita must find Kenai and together travel to the place where she almost drowned to destroy an amulet Kenai made for her. Kenai is reluctant to help her though, unable to move on from his own feelings towards her.
Kenai (Patrick Dempsey) and Koda (Jeremy Suarez) have just woken from hibernation several months after the events of the original film. Kenai has been plagued by visions of his childhood friend Nita (Mandy Moore) almost drowning. Meanwhile a now adult Nita is getting married, however the great spirits will not allow the marriage to take place because of a union she created with Kenai as children. Nita must find Kenai and together travel to the place where she almost drowned to destroy an amulet Kenai made for her. Kenai is reluctant to help her though, unable to move on from his own feelings towards her.
Brother Bear 2 falls into the category of Disney Animated Sequels that are surprisingly good. Whilst it’s not amazing like The Lion King II, Return to Neverland, or Lilo & Stitch 2, Brother Bear 2 does retain the same level of quality as the original Brother Bear film.
By throwing Nita into the mix as a reluctant love interest for Kenai, as well as a link back to his human life, a strain is placed on the relationship he has with Koda. Combined with a story about searching for love, and the things you will do for it, and Brother Bear 2 is surprisingly wholesome and much like its predecessor has a big emotional finale.
The film does bring back Rutt (Rick Moranis) and Tuke (Dave Thomas) the moose back as comic relief, though they’re given way more screentime than they were in the original and they can at times be a little grating. But it’s not enough to ruin the film, and some of the scenes they are in are arguably funnier than those on the original.
The film also looks great with an art style that closely matches the originals, and it retains the same style of fluid motion and environmental detail. This is arguably one of DisneyToon’s best looking films to date.
Brother Bear 2 is much like its predecessor a good time. It doesn’t excel in any particular areas, but overall there’s very little it does wrong. If you enjoyed the first you’re sure to have a good time on your return trip with its emotional, if somewhat predictable story.
By throwing Nita into the mix as a reluctant love interest for Kenai, as well as a link back to his human life, a strain is placed on the relationship he has with Koda. Combined with a story about searching for love, and the things you will do for it, and Brother Bear 2 is surprisingly wholesome and much like its predecessor has a big emotional finale.
The film does bring back Rutt (Rick Moranis) and Tuke (Dave Thomas) the moose back as comic relief, though they’re given way more screentime than they were in the original and they can at times be a little grating. But it’s not enough to ruin the film, and some of the scenes they are in are arguably funnier than those on the original.
The film also looks great with an art style that closely matches the originals, and it retains the same style of fluid motion and environmental detail. This is arguably one of DisneyToon’s best looking films to date.
Brother Bear 2 is much like its predecessor a good time. It doesn’t excel in any particular areas, but overall there’s very little it does wrong. If you enjoyed the first you’re sure to have a good time on your return trip with its emotional, if somewhat predictable story.