Written by Jimmy Warden and directed by Elizabeth Banks, “Cocaine Bear” tells a story loosely based on real events in which a 500-pound black bear eats a duffle bag full of cocaine, and unsuspecting victims face the consequences.

“Cocaine Bear” opens with a storm of chaotic yet comical energy as viewers learn how the cocaine ended up in the bear’s vicinity. The film then follows an array of different characters who wander into the wilderness, such as estranged best friends Daveed (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) and Eddie (Alden Ehrenreich), who need to recover the missing smuggled cocaine for Eddie’s father Syd (Ray Liotta).

The ridiculous concept of a bear on cocaine might seem like “Sharknado”’s furry cousin, but surprisingly, Banks and Warden lean into the outrageous plot by emphasizing a comedic tone, making viewers chuckle as they wince at the ripping of limbs. Characters become lovable off the bat with awkward pauses, blunt facial expressions and frank dialogue, as evident in a scene where a park ranger bad-mouths the bear for “taking a bite of her ass.” The cast flaunts a natural and effortless chemistry in all crossovers of character subplots. Even the child actors  perfectly capture youthful innocence and curiosity with playful banter. However, the genres of thriller and comedy get lost during cliché and overexaggerated dialogue in moments of slow-paced action. 

The film’s cinematography includes colorful shots of the Georgia wilderness that immerse viewers into the movie’s setting with nail-biting pans and high-tension camera movements  whenever the bear inches closer to chaos. Though with so much action, sometimes the shots feel a bit static and fail to represent critical and adrenaline-packed situations. Quick shots of characters’ imaginations detached from the events redeem the movie and add to satirical elements. 

While the outline of the movie seems pretty predictable, the stakes in “Cocaine Bear” involve more than just surviving a frenzied beast, with many man versus man conflicts adding dimension to the movie. Every character choice and constant twists and turns will leave viewers feeling almost disoriented, waiting to see what happens next.

One notable distinction between “Cocaine Bear” and most other movies about a rampaging animal comes from a sense of sympathy shown towards the bear. Instead of depicting the bear as a villain to be feared, the film occasionally compels viewers to root for the beast to stay alive. Director Banks does not shy away from gruesome, toe-curling deaths, but close-up shots of the fluffy bear and humanization of its clumsy antics ultimately leave viewers sitting up straighter in their seats as danger approaches the sharp-toothed creature. 

The wilderness survival tale ultimately pulls off both gore and comedic beats to underscore its outrageous — but loosely real — plot. Moviegoers can expect “Cocaine Bear” to become a classic thriller with claws digging into the sides of viewers as they foolishly laugh away.  

3.5 tablespoons out of 5