Bear and Friends: The Movie (2020 film)

Bear and Friends: The Movie is an American comedy adventure film directed by Gabriel Combs and based on the series with the same name. The film is produced by Gabriel Combs Movies and distributed by YouTube Originals. It stars Gabriel Combs, Kadence Lovett, Saige Lovett, and Niko Lovett reprising their roles from the series.

The film was released on YouTube on December 4, 2020. The film was a success, receiving positive reviews for its plot, casting, performances, humor, and heart. A sequel is in development.

Plot
Principal Steinbeck, who rots in jail after the events of Unicorn Goes to School, plots revenge against Bear, Dog, and Unicorn for defeating him in battle. He then breaks out of Jail and defeats the Police Officer and Prison Guard, preparing for a war against the three.

Bear wakes up early and goes to eat cereal. He and Unicorn have a fight over who should eat it and Bear goes to Dog, who got a haircut. Dog and Unicorn decide that they want to spend the day with each other and tell Bear to go away, outcasting him. The three are soon after captured by Principal Steinbeck, who locks them in the Pantry. The three quickly escape.

As they escape, they are trapped outside. They search for food while Steinbeck ruins their house in revenge. They accidentally fall into a forest. Steinbeck searches outside for the three and knocks out Nature Tour Guide Karen. The three then get inside and lock Steinbeck out. As they watch videos, Steinbeck is revealed to have snuck back in. He then creates a device that hacks into dreams. Afraid, he runs away due to being scared of their dreams.

As Steinbeck tries to plot for revenge, Bear and his friends have a picture collage together as friends, as the pictures end Bear notices Steinbeck in the background. Dog and Unicorn jump on his bed while he searches for him. Later, Bear invites them on a Shopping Spree with him. Steinbeck sneaks in to capture them in the process. As the chase ensues, Gerald saves the three and takes them to the car. Steinbeck then sneaks into the trunk of the car while they’re not looking.

Later, Steinbeck locks them out of the house again in an act of revenge. Bear, Dog, and Unicorn then find their Paradise, an Africa look-a-like place with dandelions and Potatoes. As they enjoy, Steinbeck searches for them to stalk them and see what their plans are. He then gives up later. Bear, Dog, and Unicorn begin to realize their lack of food (besides Potatoes) and they search for their home. On the Way, Bear has a nightmare about Steinbeck winning the war they started. The three arrive at the house in the Dark, but Steinbeck captures Bear in the process, along with the reveal that he and Gerald are the same person. Steinbeck then captures Dog and Unicorn, leading to the three having a fight. Steinbeck celebrates his success, but wants more. He then captures Dog and Unicorn, presumably killing them in an oven. Bear escapes the chair he was tied to and discovers the bodies to be fake.

Bear, along with the help of Sam and Buzz Lighthear, vow to come up with a Battle Plan. They then try to sneak into Steinbeck’s lair, but a hypnotized Dog guards the entrance. Dog hits them to the Downstairs, where they were trying to sneak to the whole time. Steinbeck eventually captures the three, locking them in the “hypno box”, a hypnotizing device. Bear begins to regret the fight he started with his friends as the three are finally hypnotized. Unicorn’s Dad and Unicorn are revealed to be immune as Unicorn’s Dad saves Unicorn. He then uses the last of his power to de-hypnotize Bear and Dog as Steinbeck kills him.

In the Kitchen, Unicorn hears the news about her Dad from Bear and Dog and she quits the fight due to sadness, leaving Bear and Dog to save the world alone. In Steinbeck’s Lair, Bear is nearly killed as Unicorn arrives and de-hypnotizes everyone, along with the reveal that Unicorn’s Dad survived the attack. The group then prepares for their final fight with Steinbeck. As he leaves, Bear, Dog, and Unicorn battle him. They defeat him and he is arrested once and for all, putting an end to his evil. One Week Later, Unicorn’s Dad gets a new girlfriend, Sam goes on Vacation, and Bear and Dog celebrate the friendship they created.

In a mid-credit scene, Principal Steinbeck plots revenge once again, leaving him back where he started.

Cast
Additionally, Gabriel Combs, Kadence Lovett, Niko Lovett, and Saige Lovett reprise their roles as Unicorn’s Dad, Unicorn’s Sister, Jillary and Sam, and himself respectively.
 * Gabriel Combs as Bear, a Spirit Bear who is friends with and outcasted by Dog and Unicorn. He is also the arch nemesis of Principal Steinbeck.
 * Gabriel Combs as Dog, Bear’s best friend who is a St. Bernard and Unicorn’s husband who outcasts Bear.
 * Kadence Lovett as Unicorn, Dog’s wife who outcasts Bear and lives with Bear and Dog with her sister and father.
 * Gabriel Combs as Principal Steinbeck, a psychopathic principal who breaks out of Prison to get revenge on Bear. He is also Unicorn’s former Principal (hence the name).

Production
The film was originally intended to be a private film created for fans of the series. It was filmed unannounced through August of 2020 and took almost a month to complete. It is also the first feature-length YouTube film to star Gabriel Combs. It was announced on November 15, 2020 that Bear and Friends: The Movie would be released on YouTube on December 4, 2020 due to many fans being quarantined and Combs’ eagerness to show fans the film. Combs also created a countdown for the film to celebrate its release.

Soundtrack
The film’s main soundtrack was provided by iMovie. Other songs were provided by Electric Light Orchestra, Lukas Graham, and Taio Cruz. The soundtrack is scheduled to be released on YouTube on December 2, 2020, two days before the release of the film. Total: 22 minutes 23 seconds
 * Steinbeck Returns (by: iMovie) 1:30
 * Opening Credits (by: iMovie):30
 * The Escape (by: iMovie) 1:00
 * Mr. Blue Sky (by: Electric Light Orchestra) 5:05
 * The Chase (2:00)
 * The Attack of Steinbeck (by: iMovie) 1:00
 * The Big Reveal (by: iMovie) 1:00
 * Seven Years Old (by: Lukas Graham) 3:55
 * The Fight (by: iMovie) 1:30
 * The Final Battle (by: iMovie):30
 * Dynamite (by: Taio Cruz) 3:23
 * Seven Years Old Cover (by: Niko Lovett) 1:00

Release
The film was released on YouTube on December 4, 2020. It also had an unannounced YouTube screening on November 18, 2020 for the cast so they can approve the film. It was originally intended to be a private film, but Combs changed the schedule for the film to have a YouTube release for the fans.

Marketing

The film’s trailer was originally scheduled to be released months before it officially released. The original trailer was scrapped and the new trailer was released on November 15, 2020. The trailer received a positive response from fans.

Sequel
A sequel, titled Bear and Friends: The Search for Sam, is scheduled to be released on YouTube in 2021.