History Film / BrigsbyBear

* ActingForTwo: In-universe, one actress (Whitney) plays both of the Smile Sisters.

* ActingForTwo: In-universe, one actress (Whitney) plays both of the Sunshine Sisters.

* ADateWithRosiePalms: James has a thing for the [[TwinThreesomeFantasy Sunshine Sisters]]. The film cuts away after just enough to get the gist.

The movie centers on James, a college-aged man who lives an unusual life. He lives in an underground bunker with his parents, Ted and April (Creator/MarkHamill and Jane Adams), staying safe from the irradiated wasteland above-ground. He spends his days working on math theory, but his true passion lies in watching and dissecting his favorite show (the only one they get in the bunker), 'Brigsby Bear', a long-running SpaceOpera about a bear using magic and science to fight the evil Sunsnatcher.

* AdultFear: James was kidnapped out of the hospital as a baby, and isn't recovered for over two decades.

* BlackBestFriend: The first person outside of his family that James befriends is black.

* ActingForTwo:
** Mark Hamill plays Ted Mitchum and voices all of the characters that Ted voices in Brigsby Bear, including the titular hero and Sunsnatcher.
** In-universe, one actress (Whitney) plays both of the Sunshine Sisters.

* ManChild: James is a big of one, as being raised in a bunker his entire life has left him without many social skills.

* UsefulNotes/{{Utah}}: The setting of the film. It's never directly stated, but the Pope family lives in Salt Lake City.

* ShoutOut: Spencer offers up a number of shout-outs, such as wearing a ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' T-shirt and having posters for movies like ''Film/{{Tron}}'' and ''Film/TheThing''.

* {{Utah}}: The setting of the film. It's never directly stated, but the Pope family lives in Salt Lake City.

* NoAntagonist: There's no villain in the film. Everyone is trying their best to help James work through his issues. Even his fake parents, who are thwarted at the start of the film, are given a sympathetic portrayal and don't work against James' recovery.

* NoVillain: There's no villain in the film. Everyone is trying their best to help James work through his issues. Even his fake parents, who are thwarted at the start of the film, are given a sympathetic portrayal and don't work against James' recovery.

* AnAesop: The episodes of 'Brigsby Bear' frequently involve the bear directly addressing the audience (i.e.; James) with didactic lessons.

* PuttingTheBandBackTogether: James goes around looking for the original cast members of the show to help him complete his ''Brigsby Bear'' Movie.

* ThemeTune: The in-universe show 'Brigsby Bear' has a pretty good one.

* SpoofAesop: Some of the lessons that Ted puts into ''Brigsby Bear'' are rather strange and obviously reflective of Ted's warped attempt at parenting. They range from useful things like daily exercise routines, to stranger rules like not masturbating more than twice a day, to obvious attempts at manipulation, such as discouraging curiosity.

* ActingForTwo: Mark Hamill plays Ted Mitchum and voices all of the characters that Ted voices in Brigsby Bear, including the titular hero and Sunsnatcher.

** SpoofAesop: Some of these lessons are more...idiosyncratic, given his upbringing. They range from things like daily exercise routines to rules on masturbation (never more than twice a day).

* TheCameo: [[Series/TimAndEricAwesomeShowGreatJob Tim Heidecker]] plays a hockey coach in the campy movie Greg and James see.

* EvilSorcerer: Sunsnatcher

* PunnyName: The villain of the Brigsby Bear show is Sunsnatcher. While this refers to his nature as a celestial being in-story, within the context of creator Ted Mitchum's life, it has a clear second meaning...
* PuttingTheBandBackTogether: James goes around looking for the original cast members of the show to help him complete his 'Brigsby Bear' Movie.

* ShowWithinAShow: Brigsby Bear, both the show and James's movie attempt.
* SociallyAwkwardHero: James, as mentioned.

* ADateWithRosiePalms: James has a thing for the [[TwinThreesomeFantasy SunshineSisters]]. The film cuts away after just enough to get the gist.

* ADateWithRosiePalms: James has a thing for the SunshineSisters. The film cuts away after just enough to get the gist.

* BillingDisplacement: Mark Hamill gets second billing, despite really only appearing in two scenes.

* DawsonCasting: Ryan Simpkins and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. are both a little older than high school age in real life.

* OneSceneWonder: Mark Hamill only really appears in two scenes, but makes Ted a compelling and almost sympathetic character, all the same.
* ProductionPosse: Features three-fourths of Good Neighbor, with Kyle Mooney starring, Dave [=McCary=] directing, and Beck Bennett in a supporting role as Deputy Bander.

* Archnemesis: Sunsnatcher, to Brigsby within the show.

* GettingTheBandBackTogether: James goes around looking for the original cast members of the show to help him complete his 'Brigsby Bear' Movie.

* UsefulNotes/Utah: The setting of the film. It's never directly stated, but the Pope family lives in Salt Lake City.
* WriteWhatYouKnow: James's first draft of a Brigsby script involves Brigsby breaking his parents out of jail because he feels they've been wrongly imprisoned.