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Film reviews

Cocaine Bear Review

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Films fueled by cocaine make for suspense, danger, and all kinds of character reactions, like Al Pacino as Tony Montana in Scarface (1983), or Jack Nicholson as Frank Costello in The Departed (2006). But when it’s a wild bear using the cocaine, as in Cocaine Bear, expect great loads of laughter and comical violence.


Cocaine Bear is based on true events from 1985, when a plane accidentally drops a large load of cocaine into a forest. Soon a 500-pound bear, the apex predator in the forest, begins ingesting the cocaine, and the craziness begins. The film features two teens, Dee Dee and Henry (played by Brooklynn Prince and Christian Henry), and Dee Dee’s mother, Sari (played by Keri Russell). There are also drug dealers Eddie, Daveed, and Syd (played by Alden Ehrenreich, O’shea Jackson Jr, and Ray Liotta). Finally, there is Ranger Liz (played by Margo Martindale). There are many other characters, but these serve the big importance in the film. All of the characters find themselves in a situation where they are in the forest with the cocaine-crazed bear.

While Eddie, Daveed, and Syd are trying to find their missing drugs, Dee Dee and Henry are just escaping to nature in the forest. Sari goes to look for Dee Dee, and Ranger Liz is just doing what she can to try to keep the forest safe. But of course there is no “safe” with a huge bear who is high on cocaine on the loose, because as everyone ventures into the forest, the bear already has killer instincts and the cocaine greatly increases those instincts.

With cocaine surrounding the bear, anyone who gets near becomes the bear’s next meal. But I will say that when the suspenseful moments happen, Cocaine Bear is an audacious, joyful and crazy time with everyone trying to find safety before the bear gets a chance to eat them.

Cocaine can of course cause severe reactions in humans. But a bear has a different type of brain than humans, and a bear ingesting cocaine can have severe consequences. My sense is that much of this film may not follow the actual events, but there’s no question that a bear on cocaine is bonkers.

Cocaine Bear will make viewers wonder who will have the most tragic, yet hysterical death. I know the subject of death is not funny, but this film knows how to make nature vs. humans a hilarious spectacle. Director Elizabeth Banks takes Cocaine Bear to a level of cleverness that is unsurpassed among films in the genre. A film about a bear in love with cocaine had me thinking of some potential taglines for the film, like “The bear needs rehab.”

So who will survive the mayhem? The drug dealers? The kids? Will the dealers get their drugs back? Does anyone know how to handle a bear hyped up on cocaine? Probably not. But even so, Cocaine Bear had me laughing until my lungs hurt. Three stars for Cocaine Bear.

Film reviews

Return to Seoul Review

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Return to Seoul shed some loving realizations from the plot and the context of the story alone. From the in-depth opening the themes of loneliness and disconnect are apparent. There is also a sense of reconnection through the film’s compelling story. However, the film does not provide all the answers its audience will expect. Return To Seoul has a juxtaposition where most of the film goes downhill. Five words to describe Return to Seoulare, “A turn for the worse.” That turn is due to the main character who fails to take steps to resolve the underlying problems which consume her mind.

The film is focused on a girl named Freddie who is in her mid-twenties. She is Korean but was raised in France. She was adopted by a French couple when she was young. She decides to embark on a journey to track down her biological parents which proves to be emotional. She has two weeks in Korea and what she can to locate her real parents. She has some luck, but it is not what she expects. She meets her father played by Oh Kwang-rok. Freddie does not speak Korean, so her friend Tena (played by Guka Han) translates for her. Freddie also has an aunt played by Kim Sun-young. In Freddie’s eyes, her father and her aunt seem oblivious which causes Freddie to feel disconnected.

Unfortunately, the film lacks positive revelations because of how Freddie’s behavior starts to worsen when she is dissatisfied with the results of meeting her biological family. Freddie is increasingly frustrated as she continues to spend time with her biological family. All of this creates sadness on her journey with no bright light. Return to Seoul is a portrait of how life can be without biological parents. For Freddie there are traditions she has never been part of, a language barrier with her biological family which causes her to believe that there is no benefit to establishing a real connection.

The film does have some qualities that are appealing in style when focused on Freddie. Return to Seoul paints a clear picture of her emotions. The opening emphasizes her introverted modeand the audience also sees her modes of being a social butterfly as well as someone who has potential to do a lot with her life. All the positive qualities that Freddie seems to possess continue to deteriorate when meeting her biological family goes awry. As she tries to make a meaningful connection, the disconnect she experiences only heightens her sadness.

The film also portrays tensions caused by cultural differencesbecause Freddie has been raised in France, but is Korean. Freddie is told she has, “Pure Korean traits,” and she is also told,“If you learn Korean, it will be easier.” This adds fuel to the fire in Return to Seoul and leads to a path of destruction for Freddie.From my perspective, the film does not have to take such a drastic turn for the worse.

I thought the film Return to Seoul would tell a more meaningful story of reconnection. It may in some brief moments, but overall, there is a sad outcome. While Freddie’s world is turning against her, she is also turning against herself. The film is lacking in positive aspects. Two and a half stars for Return to Seoul.

Film reviews

Of an Age Review

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Feelings of love and connection can be realized at first sight. Of an Age is a film of acceptance that examines the stressors caused by feelings of attraction. The film’s setup of two men falling for each other raises many questions. Although the bond between the two men is strong, the reality is they may be viewed differently due to the family backgrounds they come from.

Of an Age takes place in 1999 in Australia. Kol (played by Elias Anton) is a boy from Serbia and is a ballroom dancer. He starts to fall for Adam (played by Thom Green), the brother of one of Kol’s friends. As they go on a car ride together, they realize they are emotionally connected and captivate each other. Kol and Adam fall in love, but they question how life would be if they share with the world that they are in love with each other. The film jumps to 2010, and many things have changed between the two lovers. Kol is struggling and Adam is doing alright. But should they accept the reality of keeping their relationship a secret?

The bond between Kol and Adam is where the emotions lie in Of an Age. Adam can accept his love for Kol being kept a secret, but Kol cannot. Adam finds himself more accomplished career-wise, and Kol is facing hardships with his career. Of an Agemakes it clear that one can handle responsibility in life more cautiously, where another is more likely to hit plateaus. The film paints a picture of what the considerations are for the couple moving forward. For Kol, however, getting on a positive track is harder than it is for Adam.

As the emotional questioning of the ties between Kol and Adam tends to linger, there are sad moments that focus on Adam’s life. Adam does not get the support he deserves for being honest about his sexuality with his family. As I mentioned above, the stressors caused by feelings of attraction cause major anxiety for Adam, but also the audience. Kol expresses his emotions, but Adam hides his and never opens up as much. With all the emotional setbacks for Kol, there is an important message to remember from Of an Age. It is, in fact, a reminder to people that they matter. Adam can do this better than Kol. Of an Ageportrays the struggle for Kol to learn to love himself.

The matter of Kol and Adam accepting themselves is a two-way street in Of an Age. Adam is more accomplished, and Kol has many different problems in his life. Their struggles, however, do not diminish their love for each other. The power of love and friendship in Of an Age is displayed in a poetic fashion. The film makes clear that there is light for the two. The light may not be what either of them want, but, both Kol and Adam will be alright.

I believe everyone should see Of an Age. This is a film where acceptance and love took my cinematic journey in a new direction. It is authentic in its approach towards how hard love can be. It also is a film that has an artistic narrative which proves that those in love can find what is right. Truly, it is a movie where I felt hopeful that Kol and Adam would find a way to make their situation right. Four stars for Of An Age.