Brigsby Bear
Dramedy starring Saturday Night Live's Kyle Mooney, trying to integrate into society after decades spent being raised in isolation and on hundreds of episodes of a TV show - Brigsby Bear Adventures - that no-one else seems to have ever seen. Co-stars Mark Hamill, Claire Danes, Greg Kinnear and Matt Walsh.
"James (Mooney) has lived in a bunker for 25 years, completely isolated from the world. His only contact is with his parents (Mark Hamill and Jane Adams), and his only source of entertainment and education is the '80s-style television show 'Brigsby Bear Adventures'. James's life is drastically changed when he leaves the bunker and has to integrate into society: a task for which he is completely unprepared. Most disturbing of all, James can no longer watch his beloved TV show. In order to make sense of his life, James will need to bring Brigsby Bear back into it." (Sydney Film Festival)
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Steve Newall
flicks“Sheltered, unconventionally-raised, man-child encounters the real world” may seem like an overworn idea, but Brigsby Bear finds fresh gold to mine, largely by avoiding unnecessary whimsy. That’s not to suggest its complete absence, especially given the adoration James Pope (Kyle Mooney) has for a long-running TV show only he’s ever seen – Brigsby Bear Adventures - and his attendant fandom that extends to bedsheets, apparel and playsets. But the film is very much on Pope’s side, rather than subjecting him to ridicule or turning him into a one-note oddball character.
Lonely Island have outdone themsleves
Not only do you leave the cinema singing "It's Brigsby Bear" with a feeling of triumph, but also quote the movie for a full 30minutes due to how hyper you are from seeing such a hilarious & majestical film. "It's a shame you weren't abducted too, we could've have so much fun together"
Lots of quirky moments and giggles
I spent the first 15 minutes of this movie whispering to my friend "What are we watching?? This is bizarre!" But then I clicked, and the storyline became a bit clearer, and I started to really enjoy it. I'd recommend it to anyone who can appreciate awkward moments for their comedy value.
Where nostalgia and imagination combine to make movie magic.
When a young man, James (Kyle Mooney) is integrated into today's modern world after living his entire life in isolation apart from kooky couple Ted (Mark Hamill) and April (Jane Adams), the only thing that keeps his transition manageable is his stimulation by, and attachment to a kids TV show called Brigsby Bear Adventures. Made weekly, educational and...
Not sure what all the fuss is about...
I am beginning to wonder if there might be something I am missing about Brigsby Bear. Having had no preconceived notion of what sort of film I was gong to see I now discover a torrent of laudatory reviews for a film which largely left me unmoved. The premise is a deceptively simple one - boy gets abducted as a baby - is brought up by isolationist parents...
Film of the year
I watched this movie knowing almost nothing about it, without over saturating myself with details of the storyline - and I recommend you do too. Quirky and heartwarming, with the right balance of pure absurdity and humour, mixed with something which was really much more poignant. I walked out of the theatre with a smile on my face.
Best movie for Best Korea
Hollywood thinks you need conflict. It thinks you need it so bad that soft, glisteningly predictable lumps of conflict will come down the foreshadowing their way down a conveyor shovelling plot down your maw in virtually every movie. Brigsby Bear deliberately sets course for a dozen different easy conflict setups and then deftly turns at the last minute....
Go in knowing as little as possible
Hands down the loveliest film I've seen in a long long time. Not a word I was expecting to use for a SNL cast member fronted Lonely Island production (Hot Rod is my favourite film so make of that what you will). I went in knowing only the vaguest details of the plot and I think the experience was all the better for it and highly recommend you do the same. I...
Variety
pressRather than milking the outre premise for broad comedy, everyone involved strives to keep the characters and situations grounded and warm.
Vanity Fair
pressBrigsby Bear's strongest asset (well, after the gobs of in-universe verbiage that come spilling from James' mouth) is Kyle Mooney's extraordinary performance.
The Guardian
pressBest not to think about it too hard and just go along for the ride while enjoying Mooney's excellent comic timing and film's loopier notions.
Stuff
press...a gentle, pure-hearted delight of a film, with a winning idea as its core, which unassumingly impresses as one of the best films of 2017.
Rolling Stone
pressMooney is the main reason to see Brigsby Bear, the sort of indie dramedy that wears its on-the-spectrum quirk on its sleeve.
New Zealand Herald
pressThis is a heartfelt and colourful antidote to popcorn-cinema fatigue.
Newshub
pressBrigsby Bear is certainly unexpected and more than just a little bit gorgeous.
Hollywood Reporter
pressA charming, surprisingly underplayed paean to pop-culture obsession.
Collider
pressIt's difficult not to get wrapped up in the childlike sweetness on display. The movie is incredibly funny and a little weird, but it's always endearing.
Flicks, Steve Newall
flicks“Sheltered, unconventionally-raised, man-child encounters the real world” may seem like an overworn idea, but Brigsby Bear finds fresh gold to mine, largely by avoiding unnecessary whimsy. That’s not to suggest its complete absence, especially given the adoration James Pope (Kyle Mooney) has for a long-running TV show only he’s ever seen – Brigsby Bear Adventures - and his attendant fandom that extends to bedsheets, apparel and playsets. But the film is very much on Pope’s side, rather than subjecting him to ridicule or turning him into a one-note oddball character.
Variety
pressRather than milking the outre premise for broad comedy, everyone involved strives to keep the characters and situations grounded and warm.
Vanity Fair
pressBrigsby Bear's strongest asset (well, after the gobs of in-universe verbiage that come spilling from James' mouth) is Kyle Mooney's extraordinary performance.
The Guardian
pressBest not to think about it too hard and just go along for the ride while enjoying Mooney's excellent comic timing and film's loopier notions.
Stuff
press...a gentle, pure-hearted delight of a film, with a winning idea as its core, which unassumingly impresses as one of the best films of 2017.
Rolling Stone
pressMooney is the main reason to see Brigsby Bear, the sort of indie dramedy that wears its on-the-spectrum quirk on its sleeve.
New Zealand Herald
pressThis is a heartfelt and colourful antidote to popcorn-cinema fatigue.
Newshub
pressBrigsby Bear is certainly unexpected and more than just a little bit gorgeous.
Hollywood Reporter
pressA charming, surprisingly underplayed paean to pop-culture obsession.
Collider
pressIt's difficult not to get wrapped up in the childlike sweetness on display. The movie is incredibly funny and a little weird, but it's always endearing.
Lonely Island have outdone themsleves
Not only do you leave the cinema singing "It's Brigsby Bear" with a feeling of triumph, but also quote the movie for a full 30minutes due to how hyper you are from seeing such a hilarious & majestical film. "It's a shame you weren't abducted too, we could've have so much fun together"
Lots of quirky moments and giggles
I spent the first 15 minutes of this movie whispering to my friend "What are we watching?? This is bizarre!" But then I clicked, and the storyline became a bit clearer, and I started to really enjoy it. I'd recommend it to anyone who can appreciate awkward moments for their comedy value.
Where nostalgia and imagination combine to make movie magic.
When a young man, James (Kyle Mooney) is integrated into today's modern world after living his entire life in isolation apart from kooky couple Ted (Mark Hamill) and April (Jane Adams), the only thing that keeps his transition manageable is his stimulation by, and attachment to a kids TV show called Brigsby Bear Adventures. Made weekly, educational and...
Not sure what all the fuss is about...
I am beginning to wonder if there might be something I am missing about Brigsby Bear. Having had no preconceived notion of what sort of film I was gong to see I now discover a torrent of laudatory reviews for a film which largely left me unmoved. The premise is a deceptively simple one - boy gets abducted as a baby - is brought up by isolationist parents...
Film of the year
I watched this movie knowing almost nothing about it, without over saturating myself with details of the storyline - and I recommend you do too. Quirky and heartwarming, with the right balance of pure absurdity and humour, mixed with something which was really much more poignant. I walked out of the theatre with a smile on my face.
Best movie for Best Korea
Hollywood thinks you need conflict. It thinks you need it so bad that soft, glisteningly predictable lumps of conflict will come down the foreshadowing their way down a conveyor shovelling plot down your maw in virtually every movie. Brigsby Bear deliberately sets course for a dozen different easy conflict setups and then deftly turns at the last minute....
Go in knowing as little as possible
Hands down the loveliest film I've seen in a long long time. Not a word I was expecting to use for a SNL cast member fronted Lonely Island production (Hot Rod is my favourite film so make of that what you will). I went in knowing only the vaguest details of the plot and I think the experience was all the better for it and highly recommend you do the same....
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