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34
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60
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88
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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
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73
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94
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16
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75
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70
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66
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59
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34
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54
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76
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79
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40
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89
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69
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64
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69
World's Greatest Dad
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69
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You, the Living
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
Brother Bear
EMAILPRINTBuena Vista Pictures / Walt Disney Pictures

Mixed or average reviews
Based on 28 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 20 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Adventure | Animation | Family/Kids | Fantasy
Written by:
Steve Bencich
Ron J. Friedman
Broose Johnson (story)
Directed by:
Aaron Blaise
Robert Walker
Release Date:
Theatrical: October 24, 2003
DVD: March 30, 2004
Running Time: 85 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: G for General Audiences
Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Suarez, Jason Raize, Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas, D.B. Sweeney, Joan Copeland, and Michael Clarke Duncan
The powerful and playful bond between brothers, and man's bond with nature, are explored with great drama and comedy in this exciting new animated tale of brotherhood, bears and breathtaking outdoor adventure. (Walt Disney Pictures)
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database View The Trailer Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
USA Today Staff [Not Credited]
A sweet celebration of brotherhood in its many forms. It gently encourages human communion with animals, nature and our fellow man.
Read Full Review >Premiere Susannah Gora
While not a masterpiece along the lines of "The Lion King," and not a super-smart witticism-fest like "Lilo and Stitch," Brother Bear is deeply heartfelt, touching, and beautiful.
Read Full Review >ReelViews James Berardinelli
The end result is a pleasant experience that is more appropriate for families than for adults unaccompanied by young offspring.
Read Full Review >Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea
Although the story has more than a little Lion King deja vu-doo going for it, Kenai (voiced by Joaquin Phoenix) is likable as both a man, and then a bear.
Read Full Review >San Francisco Chronicle C.W. Nevius
It is bearable, in every sense of the word, and that's worth something for parents looking for G-rated entertainment.
Read Full Review >Film Threat Kevin Carr
Predictable? Yes. Corny? Sure. But Brother Bear is still good, family fun.
Read Full Review >The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt
A playful movie that celebrates nature and the spirit world with striking imagery and a smooth blend of drama and comedy.
Read Full Review >Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold
Has an unforced, pleasingly New Age feel to it; an unexpected but satisfying ending (a la "Shrek"); and a script that -- despite its overdone, body-switching premise -- comes together to nicely convey a cogent, environmentally conscious moral lesson.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan
Does have a satisfying ending and it's nice to see a G-rated film without bathroom humor, but there is too much formula and not enough reason to pay attention here.
Read Full Review >Empire Natasha Aitken
At times is heartbreakingly sad -- maybe not quite Bambi territory, but certainly moving in its own cute and furry way.
Read Full Review >Variety Todd McCarthy
A very mild animated entry from Disney with a distinctly recycled feel.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Scott Brown
Mark it: Phil Collins officially has nothing more to teach us. The tunes he's composed for Brother Bear are so generic, they're modular.
Read Full Review >New York Daily News Jack Mathews
Though Brother Bear is as beautiful as any of Disney's hand-drawn features, the gang-written script is deadly flat.
Read Full Review >Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt
All the old Disney trademarks are here, except the wit and surprise that were once the studio's stock in trade. There's little appeal to grownups, but kids should enjoy it.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Stephen Holden
This opulent movie, with gorgeous rainbow animation, is heavy on message but light on humor.
Read Full Review >Chicago Tribune Mark Caro
There's something vanilla about the whole enterprise, from the one-size-fits-all spiritualism to Phil Collins' generic world-music songs.
Read Full Review >The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Stephen Cole
The oddest movie to come out of Disney since Herbie ran out of gas in Monte Carlo, Brother Bear is a cartoon about a boy who becomes a man by learning how to be a bear.
Read Full Review >Dallas Observer Luke Y. Thompson
Fortunately the film's humor kicks in with McKenzie Brothers Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas stealing the show as a dopey pair of moose. Could've done without Phil Collins's generic, annoying tunes.
Read Full Review >Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman
After the box-office failures of "The Emperor's New Groove" and "Treasure Planet," I wonder whether Brother Bear might not be the last traditional bit of Disney animation for a while.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader J.R. Jones
Blaise and Walker cleverly widen the aspect ratio as the hero's consciousness changes and make some lovely pictures of the northern lights, but the atrocious Phil Collins score (with a vocal by Tina Turner) filled me with evil spirits.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club) Keith Phipps
Unfortunately, Brother Bear doesn't offer much to marvel at beyond its animation.
Read Full Review >TV Guide Angel Cohn
While the hand-drawn animation is visually appealing, the story is completely predictable and Phil Collins's music lacks the impact of his Oscar-winning "Tarzan" tunes.
Read Full Review >Village Voice Ben Kenigsberg
Tykes may giggle at the Rick Moranis/Dave Thomasvoiced moose, but there's little for adults.
Read Full Review >New York Post Lou Lumenick
An uninspired recycling of themes that were far more gripping in "The Lion King" and countless other earlier Mouse House classics.
Read Full Review >Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach
Lackluster in narrative and in no way original or innovative, the movie is pretty much generic Disney, a film about universal brotherhood stitched together from parts that worked better in other films.
Read Full Review >LA Weekly Ella Taylor
Today's street-smart moviegoing kids don't need to be so shamelessly pandered to.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle Marrit Ingman
The characters are mechanisms who move along the plot arc from Point A to Point B. Theyre not particularly memorable individuals.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 7.1 (out of 10) based on 20 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Jared C gave it a0:
This animated movie is special, its unexpected, mysterious, and interesting. A very appealing movie with hysterical humor. But disappointing as it is, a too short of a film, and a little bit of a weirdo (because it doesn't ever try in anything to make a good movie), it just happens, the movie is the movie. But for my eye, it isn't good enough, I found it a huge letdown for I, myself, and its reputation.
Tony M. gave it a 10:
This Waz One OF The Best Movies Ive Seen This Year I Think It Shows Alot About Brother Hood And That it is so cute how kenai then best bear in the intire world is so cute his fur and eveything is just so cute about him And Koda to waz also one of the cutest things in the whole world Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Suarez r two of the best chracters in the whole intire world they just did a good job over the bears voices.
Zu Xian T. gave it a 9:
A great show for family to watch... a pure and dramatic show which shows you brotherhood would be like... we muz learn to forgive and forget to make peace in the world... i really loves this show as it was damn touching and funny too.
K. C. gave it a 10:
Wonderful movie for the entire family. Don't believe the critics ratings. How many of them took their family to the movie?
Jackie gave it a 10:
This movie was adorable. I was watching it on a field trip. And it shows you are what you are. Koda was adorable.
Rita B. gave it a 10:
I love this movie! It's the cutest movie in the world! 10 thumbs up :)
John C. gave it a 2:
Cute, ahh cute. nonthing at all original. disney trying to teach us once again the ways of some unknown people and i know they mean well, wait it is disney no i don't, but i feel like they are shoveling bs into us and probably over simplifing something a lot more complex. at the end of the day though the movie is cute.
