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Brother Bear
Metascore
48 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 28 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 28
  3. Negative: 4 out of 28
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  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    75
    Sweet rather than exciting.
  2. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Steven Rea
    75
    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.
  3. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: C.W. Nevius
    75
    It is bearable, in every sense of the word, and that's worth something for parents looking for G-rated entertainment.
  4. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Staff [Not Credited]
    75
    A sweet celebration of brotherhood in its many forms. It gently encourages human communion with animals, nature and our fellow man.
  5. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    75
    The end result is a pleasant experience that is more appropriate for families than for adults unaccompanied by young offspring.
  6. Premiere
    Reviewed by: Susannah Gora
    75
    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.
  7. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Kirk Honeycutt
    70
    A playful movie that celebrates nature and the spirit world with striking imagery and a smooth blend of drama and comedy.
  8. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Kevin Carr
    70
    Predictable? Yes. Corny? Sure. But Brother Bear is still good, family fun.
  9. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: William Arnold
    67
    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.
  10. Empire
    Reviewed by: Natasha Aitken
    60
    At times is heartbreakingly sad -- maybe not quite Bambi territory, but certainly moving in its own cute and furry way.
  11. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    60
    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.
  12. Variety
    Reviewed by: Todd McCarthy
    60
    A very mild animated entry from Disney with a distinctly recycled feel.
  13. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Mark Caro
    50
    There's something vanilla about the whole enterprise, from the one-size-fits-all spiritualism to Phil Collins' generic world-music songs.
  14. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    50
    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.
  15. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jack Mathews
    50
    Though Brother Bear is as beautiful as any of Disney's hand-drawn features, the gang-written script is deadly flat.
  16. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Stephen Cole
    50
    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.
  17. Charlotte Observer
    Reviewed by: Lawrence Toppman
    50
    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.
  18. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Scott Brown
    50
    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.
  19. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Luke Y. Thompson
    50
    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.
  20. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    50
    This opulent movie, with gorgeous rainbow animation, is heavy on message but light on humor.
  21. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: J.R. Jones
    50
    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.
  22. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Angel Cohn
    40
    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.
  23. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Keith Phipps
    40
    Unfortunately, Brother Bear doesn't offer much to marvel at beyond its animation.
  24. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Ben Kenigsberg
    40
    Tykes may giggle at the Rick Moranis/Dave Thomas–voiced moose, but there's little for adults.
  25. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    38
    An uninspired recycling of themes that were far more gripping in "The Lion King" and countless other earlier Mouse House classics.
  26. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Chris Kaltenbach
    38
    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.
  27. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marrit Ingman
    30
    The characters are mechanisms who move along the plot arc from Point A to Point B. They’re not particularly memorable individuals.
  28. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ella Taylor
    30
    Today's street-smart moviegoing kids don't need to be so shamelessly pandered to.
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 21
  3. Negative: 4 out of 21
  1. heyitsmegrif4
    3
    It has a great soundtrack, it is gentle and it means well, but sadly it is too predictable to pass as a good movie and it follows up on its bad voice acting and so and so animation. Brother Bear is a very weak Disney effort. I give this movie 28%.… Full Review »
  2. PaulaW.
    8
    The poor reviews are hard to understand. Brother Bear is a kid's movie, and as a kid's movie it is great. It's got endearing characters, lots of cute animals, and gorgeously animated scenery. The moose provide comic relief, and the moral of the story is a nice lesson about maturity. Just one caveat: the hunting scenes were a little too intense for the 27-month old who saw it with me, even though there is no actual gore. Oh, and the Phil Collins songs are skippable. I actually enjoyed this more than The Lion King, which to me seemed to be trying too hard to bring the adults in with a story that nevertheless remains kiddie-level. I also liked it better than Shrek, which just annoyed me with its precocious attempt at hipness. It was more heartwarming and aesthetically pleasing than Ice Age. It didn't have the clever charm of Lilo and Stitch, but I don't think kids really need that. There's plenty of time for cleverness and snark later in life. Let kids be kids - take them to see Brother Bear. … Full Review »
  3. Halozone16
    10
    This is the great movie whe i was child, but sometimes is simmilar to the other movies. But is funny, beautiful the forest, and drama. Well is short than the others disney movies, but great.… Full Review »
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