Brigsby Bear

2017 comedy

Rating: 16/20

Plot: A guy who was kidnapped as a baby and knows nothing of the outside world except for a cheaply-produced sci-fi television series about a heroic bear is rescued and reunited with his parents. He finds out that Brigsby Bear doesn't exist in that outside world. So it turns out he knows nothing of the outside world. He tries to adapt to his new surroundings, introduces some new friends to Brigsby and his adventures, and then decides to make his own film to finish the story.

A very impressive feature-length comedy debut from Dave McCary, a Saturday Night Live writer/director. There are probably comedic moments in this that shouldn't work at all, but they do, mostly because of the subtle performance of Kyle Mooney as the protagonist. His very serious plight, the type that doesn't exactly seem ripe for comedy, is used for comedy, mostly to create all these stranger-in-a-strange-land scenarios. Mooney somehow manages to seem like both the straight man and whatever-the-opposite-of-a-straight-man is, hilariously oblivious to things like dogs and sex. Deadpan delivery, some perfect reactions that thankfully never go over the top, and some quality comedic writing make this character work. And you really end up liking Mooney's character, James. Granted, it's not too hard to root for a poor guy who is in the situation this character is in, but he's just got this likability that makes you wish you could spend a lot more time with the character. And you're happy when things go well for him.

You know what else makes this movie work? It's that there's not a villain in the story. I know that probably doesn't sound like it makes a lot of sense since Mark Hamill and Jane Adams (the Mitchums, by the way, in what might be a nod to another movie) kidnapped a baby. But watch this thing. You'll understand what I'm talking about. And you'll see how the other characters treat each other, and, if you're like me, you'll think it's refreshing.

These people involved with comedy troupe The Lonely Island are continuing to surprise me. I got nothing from the music of theirs that I heard, but Hot Rod, their first film attempt, was shockingly not awful, and they really floored me with Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. They didn't write and direct this one, but they did produce it and have proven to be a force to be reckoned with.

This has a good cast, too. Other than Mooney, you've got Mark Hamill who even gets to show off a little of his voice talents, Greg Kinnear, and Claire Dane bringing their famous faces. The rest of the ensemble cast is terrific at never overplaying the situations at the heart of this story.

I laughed at this more than I normally do at comedy films. A cameo from one of my favorite funny people--Tim Heidecker--in a film-within-the-film, a shirt, the Beatlers, and some genuinely hilarious lines ("There was one where he met a wizard under a waterfall and learned multiplication," says a perfectly deadpan Greg Kinnear) all helped keep a smile on my face throughout this thing. And I even teared up a bit at the end. It was because all of the characters were just so nice to each other. The world needs to be more like this movie, minus the kidnapping of babies.