The real life cocaine bear was considered the world’s most dangerous animal for the few minutes it was alive. Art by Anthony Arroyo.
By Anthony Arroyo Staff Reporter
Have you ever imagined what would happen if a wild bear ate a ton of cocaine and went crazy? You don’t have to imagine anymore, as “Cocaine Bear” is now in theaters.
Elizabeth Banks’ “Cocaine Bear” reimagines the true events that occurred in 1985, when Andrew Thornton, a drug smuggler, dropped 75 pounds of cocaine from a helicopter into a Georgia forest. Thornton ultimately fell to his death after his parachute malfunctioned, while the cocaine found its way to the forest wildlife.
Among the wildlife was a 175-pound American black bear, who ingested the drug. For a few minutes, the bear was considered the most dangerous animal in the world, until it overdosed. According to a 1985 report from the Associated Press, officials believe the bear ate millions of dollars worth of cocaine, as each package contained 88 pounds of the drug.
In this comedy thriller, however, the events are greatly modified and exaggerated. Not only does the bear survive and is fueled by cocaine, but it also goes on a rampage throughout the Georgia forest, devouring everyone and everything in its path, scavenging for more of the drug.
Daveed (O’Shea Jackson) and Eddie (Alden Ehrenreich) are on a mission to recover the cocaine that was lost in the forest, while Sari (Keri Russell) is on her own mission to find her daughter Dee Dee (Brooklynn Prince), who skipped school to go to the forest with her best friend Henry (Christian Convery).
Both missions are further complicated when the two groups get caught in the crosshairs of the cocaine fueled bear. Every other scene contains chaos as someone is getting decapitated or ripped apart by the bear. Behind all of the blood and guts, there is a simple lesson taught: don’t mess with mother nature because it will get back at you.
The film strays away from the common formula in which animals are portrayed as demonized antagonists (e.g., “Jaws,” “King Kong,” and “Jurassic Park”). The cocaine bear is instead an unfortunate soul that had the displeasure of suffering the consequences of human action. It can even be argued that the humans themselves are the antagonists, as they are responsible for the bear’s condition. In a way, the bear gets revenge for his real-life counterpart against mankind.
“Cocaine Bear” is not a movie to be taken too seriously. It is not a movie with a deep meaning or a Shakespeare play that requires a deep analysis. It is just a fun, gory and comical adventure that puts you in a time machine and takes you back to the 1980s.
The soundtrack is a blast from the past and contains many classics from the 80s, including Depeche Mode’s “Just Can’t Get Enough.”
If you like gore, comedy and ridiculous over-the-top action, then “Cocaine Bear” is a must-watch.
