Grin and BEAR it ... BROTHER here is my review

NO SPOILERS-
El Capitan - Opening Night

I don't know why this movie is not being promoted better. That aside if it
does "get legs" and hang on through Christmas then they have a moneymaker on
their hands. Will it be enough to save Animation? Doubtful. But if Disney
had been producing Brother Bear caliber films instead of animated human
dramas, likely a few more jobs would have been saved. Talking animals folks,
gets us every time.

This film has all of the elements that you come to expect in a Disney
Animated feature produced in the legacy of Walt. Good story, moral, drama,
magic and believable characters (that aren't juvenile delinquents - sorry
Lillo lovers). The Native American angle was handled with dignity and a
certain fascination.

The animation is gorgeous, with every scene lavishly trimmed out in
backgrounds and layout. (By the way - I did not see DCA's  Grizzly Peak!)
Characters are well done and their lessons learned are not done too heavy
handed.

The Music is CHARMING friends. Granted it is not Tarzan. It was not trying
to be jungle and gorilla based. The object of the music is to move the plot
along, or state a fact, which it does handily. Phil's tunes have usually
been simple melodies, which work. (Seldom do folks leave the theater
whistling anything but the simplest, yet catchiest melodies - Think Mary
Poppins) Phil takes these melodies and expands them throughout the picture.

Finally what will sell this picture is the COMEDY; Of course the two Moose,
Rutt- voiced by Rick Moranis and Tuke- voiced by Dave Thomas are the main
catalyst for humor. The timing and rhythm of the humor was masterful
storytelling IMHO.  Keep a lookout for the two Rams. I laughed hard enough
to weep.

All said a great Disney effort by the staff in FL.  I have a difficult time
putting the films in any favorite order, so let's just say that if you took
you favorite elements from Jungle Book, Fox and the Hound and The Lion King
and set it in the North American west you would get Brother Bear.
The Previews were ... (something TV'ish that I forgot the title promptly,
something like Dog and Boy???)Ah - Teacher's Pet, The Haunted Mansion of
course and Home on The Range. Again the comedy may sell HOTR as well. Will
these two films save traditional animation? Only time will tell.

A comment to about the El Capitan crowd. This group was very up for the
show. The 30 minute preshow entitled "The Magic of Disney Music" was well
received. A mixed group of 20 something's dressed as Mouseketeers were a
talented group. They sang and danced their little hearts out along with
costumed characters.  A Fitting tribute to the past

Oh BTW [u]stay for the end of the credits[/u] ...as if I would have to tell
this group.

but sometimes that large coke you had with the popcorn is knocking loudly!


-- 
Jeff in Orange County, CA

Disney Music Collector/ Disneyland Annual Passholder
and having the bejesus scared out of me by the hippo's since 1963!
"I look upon Walt as a conductor of one of the world's great orchestras, and
I was part of the orchestra" Herb Ryman 1910 -1989