Well-received French film from James Oliver Curwood's book harks back to the wildlife documentaries from 1950s Disney in both style and sentiment, as an orphaned bear cub trails a Kodiak bear around a mountain terrain for companionship. Soon, they're both being followed by an eager pack of hunters. "The Bear" features several eloquent and lovely moments, captured beautifully on film by director Jean-Jacques Annaud, though unfortunately the film as a whole isn't especially worthwhile. The animals are manipulated into action for the sake of thrills, some of which have a brutal edge, leaving an uncomfortable pall hanging over the project. Ultimately, it's an old-fashioned adventure story with a sincere appreciation for the bears involved, yet it doesn't leave one feeling very satisfied. ** from ****
Review of The Bear
