Hollywood is known for drawing on true stories for inspiration… and Cocaine Bear is no exception. In 1985, drug smuggler, Andrew Thornton unloaded his illegal cargo over Georgia national parks when his aircraft started to crash… the cocaine survived the descent, Andrew Thornton did not. The cocaine was then discovered by a brown bear who consumed an estimated 40 kilos, worth $55 million in today’s money, adjusted for inflation.

In real life the unfortunate bear died almost immediately… but when did Hollywood ever let the truth get in the way of a good story!

Writer, Jimmy Warden certainly didn’t , envisaging the rampage, a bear, high on drugs and fast developing an addiction, might have gone on if it had survived the initial consumption.

Embracing the sublime ridiculousness of Warden’s script and with the aim of making an R rated comedy, director Elizabeth Banks, pulls together an all-star cast including Keri Russell, Alden Ehrenreich and Ray Liotta, in one of his last roles before his passing in 2022.

These might be the biggest stars listed in the cast, and all three provide impeccable performances, but it is the supporting actors who steal the film, and elevate it from what could easily have been a run-of-the-mill comedy to a stand out production.

Margo Martindale, shines as the tough talking, but hopelessly romantic park ranger, who finds herself out of her depth as she tries to deal with a cocaine happy bear, while, Aaron Holliday playing the leader of a local gang “terrorising” the area, steals every scene he’s in, especially those with Alden Ehrenreich and O’Shea Jackson Jr. And, despite only minutes of screen-time, it’s impossible to forget Kristofer Hivju (Tormund from Game of Thrones), who plays a grieving hiker.

However, after the titular Cocaine Bear (hats off to the film’s visual effects department), the real star of the film is 13-year-old Christian Convery, who plays Henry, the best friend of the Keri Russell’s on-screen daughter. Despite his age, Convery is an experienced comedic actor, and this experience pays off as he masters the delivery of his lines, using timing, tone and expression to ensure the perfect comedic effect. He certainly had our screening in fits of laughter. What’s more, Henry could have been an obnoxious character that quickly grated, yet in Convery’s hands, Henry is anything but and you quickly find yourself routing for this unlikely sidekick.

Embrace the sheer ridiculousness of the plot and Cocaine Bear is film full of laughs and heart that will sweep you along on it’s rampage. Not letting the truth get in the way of a good story, certainly pays off for Hollywood here.

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