Film Name: 大卫贝肯之倒霉特工熊 / Da Wei Bei Ken Zhi Dao Mei Te Gong Xiong
What would a Chinese-developed version of the unlucky bear look like? True to form, it lost 99% of the original flavor of the brand. This comes as no surprise, as straying from the original vision is the fate of most brands acquired by other companies worldwide.
The film’s character, Bacon, bears only a physical resemblance to the original misfortune bear. Beyond that, he’s practically another bear from the Arctic. He has a tragic childhood, a young human friend who serves as both owner and trainer, and a pitifully dim-witted personality—implanted with a chip, turned into an agent, even surviving a nuclear blast without a clue. This isn’t the misfortune bear at all; it should be called the “tragedy bear” or the “feel-good bear.”
If it were Unlucky Bear, the misfortune should be laced with a touch of “not-so-unlucky” heartwarming moments, where other emotions serve as garnish. Yet the film scarcely delivers Bear’s signature comedic gags of misfortune, leaving audiences torn between the bear’s amusing exterior and the emotionally forced sentimentality. Neither feeling feels pure or satisfying.
If Unlucky Bear is an agent, he should be making a fool of himself, causing all sorts of chaos, and bringing trouble to his superiors and the organization. While being a troublemaker, he uses that tiny bit of luck behind his misfortune to solve the ultimate problems that elite agents can’t handle. This movie should be very lighthearted and filled with laughter. Why force the Unlucky Bear brand onto a story that opens with family separation—a premise that defies laughter?
It’s clear the film genuinely aims to evoke emotional resonance. But does it truly move the audience? There are moments—when mother and cub are separated, when they reunite in an embrace—that stir something. Yet these fleeting touches are instantly dissipated by a plot devoid of focus or logic. Never mind how polar bears mastered such advanced technology or survived a nuclear blast at point-blank range. Even the emotional connections between Bacon, his mother, and the little girl feel inexplicably oversimplified.
In my view, the film’s most crucial emotional core lies in resolving the question of whether the little girl or her mother holds greater significance for Bacon. His final choice of whom to stay with represents the film’s most pivotal decision. Of course, he could have chosen both, but this would have required navigating complex emotional conflicts and trade-offs, ultimately confirming that both are the most important people in his life. The film completely bypasses this process of choice. Baken’s decision is not inevitable; either choice could be justified. But for it to feel authentic and moving, he must undergo an internal struggle.
Another crucial prop in the film is the chip implanted in Baken’s brain to train him as an agent. If Bacon relied on this chip for his entire life, he would essentially be a slave to humanity. How could he truly become a good agent or a good friend? The implantation of the chip must be accompanied by its eventual removal. Bacon’s final struggle must be carried out by the authentic, unadulterated Bacon himself, free from any external influences. Only then can it be truly moving.
The most laughable—not genuinely funny, but childishly absurd—aspect is that the chip’s side effect causes physical stiffness, and this is supposedly cured by a single needle prick in the buttocks. How simplistic, how crude. A genuine side effect should be something on the scale of “Baken losing his selfhood”—perhaps the chip enhances his skills but robs him of kindness and innocence. How did Bacon overcome this side effect? Or rather, how did he and the little girl overcome it together? Explaining these details is what truly moves people.
A simple hug or act of devotion isn’t genuinely moving. Delving into the characters’ inner worlds and asking why they would act this way—that’s what truly stirs the soul.
Please specify：Anime Phone Cases » Da Wei Bei Ken Zhi Dao Mei Te Gong Xiong 2017 Animation Film Review: When the Unlucky Bear Stops Being Unlucky