Brother Bear 2
By Mal Simons, Blockbuster.co.uk

The first Brother Bear was one of the last Disney movies to be hand-animated at a time when the cartoons of the time were changing to embrace CGI. The story of a man turned into a bear who befriends a younger, orphaned bear… the film was unexpectedly brilliant and as such, the powers that be felt it warranted a sequel. Well, here it is, and I’m pleased to say that Brother Bear 2 is just as good if not better than the first movie.

The first Brother Bear introduced Kenai, a man, living in a prehistoric time that kills a bear in revenge but then is transformed into a bear himself through some sort of Native American spirit. Kenai as a bear went on a journey of adventure and discovery to reach a mountaintop in order to turn him back into a human being. Along the way, he befriends the orphaned son of the bear that he killed and the two of them become friends. Upon arriving at the top of the mountain, Kenai decides to stay as a bear so he can take care of the young cub. This sequel picks up the story a few years later.

The story begins in the countryside with Kenai ( Patrick Dempsey) and Koda ( Jeremy Suarez) playing in the fields, the film then switches to Nita ( Mandy Moore), a ‘good friend’ of Kenai from before he became a bear. Nita is about to be married but on her wedding day, the ground opens up and the village Shaman tells her that she cannot marry until she breaks the bond between her and her now furry friend.

“Once you love someone, they stay in your heart forever.”

The only way to do this is to go with Kenai the bear to the waterfall where they first pledged their love for one another and they must burn the amulet that Kenai gave her. This will break the bond between the two of them and Nita will be free to marry whoever she chooses. The Shaman gives Nita the power to talk to and understand animals and Nita goes on her way to find the two bears.

Nita soon finds the two brother bears and they set out on their way to the waterfall. Along for the ride are the two moose – Rutt and Tuke ( Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas), who have ‘caught’ spring fever and are heading the same way to chase a pair of girl moose. Kids will love these two characters as the comic relief from an otherwise quite serious but emotional movie.

The problem for Kenai and Nita is that they both still have feelings for each other. Kenai longs to be human again and wishes to call on the ‘Great Spirit’ to change him back but then he has his little brother bear to consider.

Brother Bear 2 looks and feels fantastic and to the standard that you would expect from the House of Mouse. There’s plenty here for both kids and adults alike to enjoy with a story that will be enough for everyone to be entertained.

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