MOVIE REVIEWS

Didn't expect this to be good, and yet it is. <em>'Brother Bear 2'</em> can feel like a slight retread and it does the overdone Disney romance stuff, it also ends as dissatisfying as the original. With all that noted, it is actually an enjoyable and respectable sequel. The new characters are fun, as the older ones remain just that. The animation looks similar, leaving equal impressions to the 2003 production. Patrick Dempsey is arguably better as Kenai than Joaquin Phoenix, or at least his voice suits better. The music, as much as I do like Phil Collins' efforts, is definitely improved here in my opinion. All in all, given all that I've mentioned, it still tallies up lower than the first film. However, it does do some things well and it merits credit for that.

Now permanently a bear, "Kenai" and best buddy "Koda" are living life to the full but the former still dreams of his first love "Nita". They parted many years ago and the time has now come for her to wed. The spirits are not impressed though. They consider that she and "Kenai" are promised to each other. The only way she can appease their objections is to return to a place where he gave her an amulet, and then burn it! She seeks the pair out and together they journey to that spot, but en route they all have doubts about the best way forward and the young "Koda" fears he may lose his best friend. It's not quite as good as the first film, but it still taps into the spirituality of mankind's relationship with nature as well as humorously taking us on a few lively adventures - especially when her new beau follows and becomes increasingly miffed at what he sees. It moves along quickly and engagingly enough for just over an hour with some traditional looking animation and a fairly amiable, if maybe a little too sentimental, story.