MOOSE FROM THE MOUSE, AND NOT MUCH MORE.

Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic

DISNEY has released three animated movies this year - ``Piglet's Big Movie,'' ``Jungle Book 2'' and now ``Brother Bear'' - and it's a safe bet none of them are going to go down in the studio's annals as all-time classics.

``Brother Bear'' doesn't disappoint, but only because expectations for the film weren't high to begin with. It's a thoroughly pleasant, if unremarkable, kids' movie that will keep the little ones entertained for 80 minutes while not hurting their parents' heads too much.

``Brother Bear'' blends a circle-of-life mysticism with the antagonistic buddy dynamic found in movies like ``Ice Age'' and ``Shrek.'' In its storytelling, the movie has two minds, beginning with a rather intense (parents of toddlers, take note), 15-minute segment that includes an angry bear, a death in the family (a hallmark of Disney animation) and a torrent of anger. Then, when a character is magically transformed into a bear, the film heads into the land of cute talking animals, the kind of movie that you might expect from all those moose billboards around town.

Both approaches work - just not together, at least not in the way they're assembled here. It's simply an effort on the filmmakers' part to hit the largest number of demographic groups possible.

That's why the two endearingly dumb moose are voiced by Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis, reprising their McKenzie Brothers routine (remember them, eh?) as a bone to parents who came of age in the late '70s. No, it's not cutting-edge, but then neither is hiring Phil Collins (that's Oscar-winning Phil Collins) to write the movie's songs. Everything in ``Brother Bear'' is the safe bet.

And that means the movie can't lose. But it also can't really win. A story about an American Indian who, after the loss of a brother, is transformed into a bear so he can learn about his purpose in life has the potential to go to a lot of interesting places, but none of them include McKenzie moose. The kids might like it, adults could chuckle, but you used to expect more from Disney animation. Sadly, those days - and expectations - have faded from memory.

Glenn Whipp [phone]

glenn.whipp(at)dailynews.com

BROTHER BEAR - Two and one half stars

(G)

Starring: Voices of Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Suarez, Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas.

Directors: Aaron Blaise, Bob Walker.

Running time: 1 hr. 20 min.

Playing: El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood. Opens citywide Nov. 1.

In a nutshell: It doesn't disappoint, but only because expectations weren't high to begin with.

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Disney's ``Brother Bear'' features the voices of Joaquin Phoenix, Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas. The latter two reprise their McKenzie brothers characters - recast as moose.