If you want to take your family to a movie, this should be on your list. It keeps the children entertained as well as the adults. I hope they make a sequel for they can make quite a good franchise out of it. I would definately see this movie with my family, if you don't see Lilo and Stitch.

The reason I always get so p***ed off at those who demand that all the imdb ratings they give average out to 5.5 (or, if their math skills are poor, 5) is because I am rather sure that most people are smart enough to avoid movies like The Country Bears, thus missing the type of movies that would make a Bell Curve remotely possible. The reason my own vote history averages out to a high 7.5 is because I can see a preview for a movie like this and say `I'm never going to see this movie.' However, once in a while, I just have to bite the bullet and watch an awful movie. As long as it's short, how bad can it hurt? I usually watch these kinds of movies with my brother, who has a far less refined taste in movies than myself. I'm sure he sat down to watch this particular movie to see just how bad it could be (he rented it for his two and a half year old). And, oh lord, is it terrible. I don't know if I've ever heard lamer jokes delivered with worse timing. Some of the jokes might have even been funny if the actors cared whatsoever, but they really don't. Celebrities pop up in thankless cameos. You'd think Brian Setzer would know better. Christopher Walken tries hard to make something out of his role as the villain, who wants to knock down Country Bear Hall really bad (his hood ornament is a wrecking ball). The script is far too awful to allow him even a decent moment. Alex Rocco, Moe Green from the first Godfather movie, wears his hideous red wig and acts like he wants another bullet in the eyeball. The actual Country Bears wouldn't have been impressive when I was a kid; they made me long for the live action Ninja Turtles. Haley Joel Osment is lucky he didn't actually have to appear in the movie. My brother and I spent most of the movie fiercely debating whether the man who drove the Country Bear tour bus was played by Ted Nugent. Dammit, I lost the bet. I should have known Mr. Nugent had more integrity than that (for the record, Queen Latifah, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, Wyclef Jean, and Willie Nelson do not). 2/10 (why 2 and not 1? Well, I liked a couple of the songs and that Krystal chick is hot).

I personally do not think The Country Bears is that great, but I also don't think it is that bad either. I can think of worse movies that have a higher rating, but I can also think of better movies too. The Country Bears may have a lot of faults, that I agree, it does have its good points.

Let's start with the good points shall we? First and foremost, Christopher Walken seems to be really enjoying himself as the villain of the piece, he is deliciously theatrical and really breathes life into any shortcomings the film has. The soundtrack is also great, country-and-western music I can take or leave but it was used and performed very well here. Most of the cameos are pretty entertaining, it was nice to see Elton John, Willie Nelson and Queen Latifah, while the production values are good, Haley Joel Osment is appealing and the country bears of the title are convincingly played.

However, the film does have its shortcomings, starting with the length. The film is too short, and could have been longer with a little more detail to plot. I didn't mind the plot was simple, some of my favourite films have simple stories, but it is a predictable and rushed one with an ending you can smell a mile off. The script is also rather weak likewise with the jokes some of which were embarrassing(1812 Overture played with the arm-pits, what next?),the film is rushed I think and the direction is sloppy.

So overall, The Country Bears had its moments, and it is much better than the trailer which was embarrassing, but it wasn't enough to sustain into a good enough film. 5/10 Bethany Cox