Brigsby Bear

In this charming, low-budget comedic drama with a quirky, provocative theme, adult James (Kyle Mooney) lives in an underground bunker in the California desert with his parents, April and Ted Mitchum (Jane Adams, Mark Hamill). Shielded from the “toxic” outside air, James spends his days obsessively watching hundreds of VHS episodes of the fantasy TV show Brigsby Bear Adventures, featuring a huge, anthropomorphic teddy bear that not only saves the galaxy but also subtly home-schools James in science and mathematics. One night, the police arrive to arrest the Mitchums for kidnapping James just after he was born. A bewildered James is questioned by Detective Vogel (Greg Kinnear) and reunited with his real parents (Michaela Watkins, Matt Walsh), who have never stopped searching for him. Understandably confused by middle-class suburbia, James's primary reference is Brigsby Bear, which cartoonist kidnapper Ted created exclusively for James's viewing. Eventually, James discovers a medium to which he can relate: movies. With the help of his new sister (Ryan Simpkins), her aspiring CGI artist pal (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), and the empathetic Vogel, James sets out to film a conclusion to Brigsby's saga—much to the consternation of his parents and clueless therapist (Claire Danes). Directed by Dave McCary, Brigsby Bear is a sweetly sincere, poignant, life-affirming treat. Recommended. (S. Granger)