Brigsby Bear

An oddball endeavor that doesn’t entirely work, Brigsby Bear follows Kyle Mooney’s James Pope as he’s thrown into a situation entirely outside his comfort zone – with the bulk of the movie detailing James’ efforts at replicating a cult TV show from his childhood. Screenwriters Mooney and Kevin Costello have delivered a unique premise that is, in the early stages, rife with surprising story developments, as Brigsby Bear benefits substantially from Mooney and Costello’s irreverent approach and from the efforts of a decidedly eclectic cast (which includes Greg Kinnear, Mark Hamill, and Jane Adams). It’s disappointing to note, then, that the movie begins a slow-but-steady descent into mediocrity past a certain point, as Mooney and Costello essentially abandon the oddball atmosphere in favor of something far more familiar and conventional (ie the film morphs into an almost eye-rollingly hackneyed ragtag-group-of-misfits-band-together-to-accomplish-something-grand type of tale). Filmmaker Dave McCary’s efforts at cultivating a feel-good vibe grow more and more desperate as time progresses, but the movie is, for the most part, neither funny enough nor emotional enough to accomplish this somewhat lofty feat. The overtly pandering climax only confirms Brigsby Bear‘s place as a once-promising yet ultimately-misbegotten endeavor, and it’s clear, too, that Mooney simply doesn’t have the presence or star power to anchor a full-length feature (ie he’s just too quirky and weird).

** out of ****