Brother Bear
Reviewed by Cathy Edsey Collins for Reel Movie Critic
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Cast
Joaquin Phoenix (voice): Kenai	Jeremy Suarez (voice): Kada
D.B. Sweeney (voice): Kada	Rick Moranis (voice): Sitka
Jason Raize (voice): Denahi	Dave Thomas (voice): Trike
Directed by Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker. A family animated adventure. Rated G. Walt Disney Pictures.

This latest Disney effort reverberates with familiar elements of past favorites. The tribute to nature is reminiscent of "Pocahontas"; guilt over the death of a close relative rings close to "The Lion King"; and even rhythmic melodies of composer/singer Phil Collins sound eerily like his music from "Tarzan."

Yes, "Brother Bear" revisits many tried and true Disney formulae, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Produced at Disney's Florida Animation Studio, which also created the recent "Lilo and Stitch," "Brother Bear" is drawn in the traditional cel-animation style, with eye-catching watercolor-like backgrounds that set these films apart from Disney's computer generated cartoons. There is something oddly comforting-downright old-fashioned, I suspect-about this labor-intensive technique.

Set in the Pacific Northwest at the end of the Ice Age when wooly mammoths still shook the earth, this new animated family feature does tread some new ground. The youngest of a trio of brothers learns a valuable lesson about love and brotherhood when he inadvertently causes the death of his oldest sibling in a bear attack.

Stalking this "killer" bear atop a high mountain, to avenge his brother's death, Kenai finds himself mysteriously turned into a bear. This confusing transformation introduces him to Kada, a gregarious cub in search of his mother. As the duo travels to the bear family reunion at Salmon Run, Kenai realizes much about the nature of all families and the true meaning of love.

Like other Disney films, "Brother Bear" throws in a few sidekicks to water down the sappiness. The moose-Rutt and Trike-are clearly among the most hilarious of these Disney add-ons because they are voiced by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas, as the popular SCTV McKenzie brothers ("Canada, eh?") -a real hoot for parents accompanying their kids. Their rendition of the game "I Spy" (no matter what they describe, it turns out to be a tree) is one of the film's grinning highlights. Their yoga stint takes second place. Seeing this duo back in action after nearly 30 years - even though they are animated moose-is worth the price of admission alone.

Phil Collins' score, complete with five new songs, proves to be an energetic catalyst for the "Brother Bear" action. The most humable tune is "On My Way," sure to be a pop hit.

A visual delight best seen on a big screen, "Brother Bear" boasts scenes whose backgrounds could stand alone in an art gallery. Billowing clouds in a pink and blue sky set against forests of multi-hued trees give this standard Disney family fare an artist's touch and a classy look that soothes the soul.