User Score
7.2 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 39 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 39
  2. Negative: 6 out of 39

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  1. Dec 30, 2011
    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%.
  2. Jackie
    Apr 17, 2004
    10
    This movie was adorable. I was watching it on a field trip. And it shows you are what you are. Koda was adorable.
  3. PaulaW.
    Nov 12, 2003
    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. Expand
  4. ZuXianT.
    Jun 28, 2004
    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.
  5. TracyD.
    Dec 14, 2003
    10
    I like this movie. It is to die for so is Seabiscuit and good boy.
  6. KennethC.
    Jan 1, 2004
    9
    This is a emotionally powerful film about personal redemption, brotherhood and empathy. It strikes the delicate balance of appealing to adults as well as kids. Just the sequence where the hero must come to terms with making a terrible mistakes and its consequences puts it above many of the films made today!
  7. K.C.
    Apr 30, 2004
    10
    Wonderful movie for the entire family. Don't believe the critics ratings. How many of them took their family to the movie?
  8. TonyM.
    Sep 24, 2004
    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. Expand
  9. DanO.
    Nov 23, 2003
    9
    I am so glad that the user rating is higher than the unfairly low rating by obviously jaded critics. I took two boys and two girls to this movie, ages 4 - 8, and they all loved this movie. I also enjoyed the movie and can't think why some have panned it so much for adults. No it doesn't have the sophisticated humour of Shrek, but it is still enjoyable. As a parent I also enjoyed not having to cuddle my child at the beginning as in Finding Nemo, or explain why a brother would kill brother as in the highly regarded Lion King. I find it unfortunate that many critics can't rate a kid's movie as a kid's movie. Perhaps they should take a child with them and they might experience the movie differently. Expand
  10. Apr 23, 2011
    10
    In terms of childhood favorites, this movie is certainly up there. Amazing visuals and soundtrack, excellent plot, and funny dialogue, this movie is one of the greats of Disney's creations. Excellent, worth the 10 stars, and a must-see for Disney Die-Hards.
  11. Sep 24, 2011
    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.
  12. JaredC
    Jul 30, 2007
    0
    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. Expand
  13. TimC.
    Nov 2, 2003
    8
    Saw this movie with my entranced 6 and 3 year olds. I loved it and found during this seemingly endless spree of bllod bath films, heart warming. A joy to see with my children and be able to relax and not worry about explaining something to them later, or worry about them duplicating parts of the movie later.
  14. PaulaW.
    Nov 12, 2003
    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. Expand
  15. JohnC.
    Feb 24, 2004
    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.
  16. ChadS.
    Nov 10, 2003
    5
    Pans like mine, or from a real critic, are irrelevant to those with children, because "Brother Bear" is a wonderful film to take a small child to. But the dialogue is too cliched for adult ears, especially the early exchanges between brothers. The ramifications of death can be felt in an animated film, but not this one, since the screenwriters created cartoon characters, without even an obligatory stab towards transcendence. And it's not clear to me why the matriarch doesn't warn her grandson about his brother's new incarnation. "Brother Bear" misses its chance to be a near-miss, when Phil Collins interrupts Kenai in a scene that could've said a lot about the relationship between animal and man. But you don't want an audience full of bawling tykes so Kodak's feelings are handled with kid gloves. Expand
  17. RLS
    Oct 24, 2003
    7
    Great for kids...and the Moose are funny...animation is vivid for 2-D. Not sure what the critics were thinking...so it doesn't have a bunch of smart-alec humor for adults and teens...for your kids this is a great choice of film.
  18. Dr.Steve
    Nov 15, 2003
    8
    I saw this with my wife and our six-year old son. This is one of the more entertaining animated features I've seen. It starts a bit slow, but really picks up after Kenai is transformed into the bear. The best part, by far, were the two moose played by the MacKenzie brothers of Great White North fame (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas). Almost every line they had drew laughs.
  19. Oct 23, 2010
    6
    it wasn't the best disney movie when it was overshadowed by Disney/Pixar's Finding Nemo, but this movie was pretty much worth a try.
  20. Feb 24, 2011
    5
    Not as good as for example, Toy Story but still for kids (aged 6-10), they'll probably enjoy it.
  21. Dec 8, 2011
    2
    This movie is delightful. So dark and gloomy. I hated this movie. I was confused throughout the film. It was a pleasure to the eyes, and my soul. This movie is faced paced, boring, idiotic, good, and wierd. I don't understand my review.
  22. Mar 27, 2013
    8
    Great tale of a boy learning the ways of the wild bear after he kills one, avenging his brother's death. He learns throughout the film about the bear's point of view, accompanied by a young bear named Koda.
Metascore

Mixed or average reviews - based on 28 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 28
  2. Negative: 4 out of 28
  1. A playful movie that celebrates nature and the spirit world with striking imagery and a smooth blend of drama and comedy.
  2. Reviewed by: Todd McCarthy
    60
    A very mild animated entry from Disney with a distinctly recycled feel.
  3. Reviewed by: Ben Kenigsberg
    40
    Tykes may giggle at the Rick Moranis/Dave Thomas–voiced moose, but there's little for adults.