The acting in Mickey and the Bear is very good, especially on the part of Camila Morrone in this coming of age drama. It’s her first starring role and she turns what could have been a lackluster afternoon soap into a remarkable test of humanity. Directing comes from Annabelle Attanasio who keeps the film deep and intrinsic while allowing Morrone to shine with an exceptional display of her talent.
Young Mickey (Camila Morrone) has had a tough life and is about to graduate from High School. Most of the angst she’s dealing with comes from her father Hank (James Badge Dale), who still can’t come to grips with the loss of her mother to cancer. What’s worse involves his dealing with PTSD from a tough tour of military service in the Middle East, drug dependency as a result and a trip down the rabbit hole.
Dealing with all of this, her aspirations of becoming a college student where she has been offered a scholarship, are slowly withering away due to the dependency of her father. Director and screenwriter Annabelle Attanasio immediately introduces the situation in which Mickey finds herself and then adds a couple of characters that keep the story moving along at a nice pace. Aron (Ben Rosenfield) is a love interest who’s more of a horny fellow student filling Mickey’s head with thoughts of sex for his own pleasure, and Wyatt (Calvin Demba) a more level headed student, is enamored by her beauty and intelligence. Sometimes life becomes “a bitter pill to swallow”, and Attanasio nails it with Mickey and the Bear.
The film’s an excellent vehicle for Camila Morrone, especially since she has James Badge Dale as Hank the “bear” who becomes the antithesis for whom she has to deal. The two playoff each other extremely well revealing Mickey’s hurt and Hank’s hatred for the losing cards he was dealt. It could have been a catastrophe for the wrong actress, but Attanasio chose well and all three become winners in Mickey and the Bear.
It’s unlikely that in the crowded movie releases for the holiday that the film will have a big box-office following, but I feel this is one of those gems that make movies great. If you like dramas or just want to get entertained with exceptional acting and a storyline that touches the heart, then seek out Mickey and the Bear at a local theater.
Mickey and the Bear has been rated R for substance abuse, language throughout and some sexual material. Check your local listings for a theater near you.
FINAL ANALYSIS: One of the better indie dramas this year. (4 out of 5 stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Camila Morrone, James Badge Dale, Calvin Demba
Directed and written by: Annabelle Attanasio
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: R for substance abuse, language throughout and some sexual material
Running Time: 1hr. 28 min.
Opening Date: November 29, 2019
Distributed by: Utopia
Released in: Theaters, Color
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
