A boy's best friend is an animal, in fact any wild animal if they don't have a dog, and in Mark's (Clint Howard) case, it's a baby bear. He witnessed some hunters kill its mother and take the bear to keep in their garage. He keeps taking the growing bear outside for fresh air and grubs, and eventually, they are very close friends. Howard's parents (Dennis Weaver and Vera Miles) are concerned about missing food and eventually learn the truth when one of the hunters confronts them about his actions. Having named the gentle bear Ben, Howard desperately wants to get the bear way from the hunters whom he is sure mistreat it. When he overhears one of the hunters drunkenly bragging about how he's going to turn the bear into steaks, he decides to take drastic measures.
Bear River is the setting for this family drama that has something to entertain everyone, and for those of us who love animals, it's a reminder how gentle wild life can be when they are treated right and left in their own natural habitat. Certainly, the baby bear does follow him around like a puppy, and as it gets bigger (which in bear life isn't long), its gentility towards him continues even though its aggression towards the hunters becomes obvious. By the time Mark is ready to let Ben go free, Ben has obviously come to love him, and the scene of Mark trying to force Ben to go off into the wilderness is emotional, but not maudlin. The aftermath of a lake storm makes the parents take a serious look at the real friendship between Mark and Ben. Even if how it all turns out couldn't likely occur in real life, it is enjoyable to watch play out.
While a family film of the Disney variety, this fortunately lacks the cloying qualities that made the Disney films often irritatingly sickenly sweet. There's more of a reality to this which, mixed with the beautiful fishing lake locale, is glorious for nature lovers as well as fans of good cinematography. The conflict really keeps your attention, and Howard is enjoyable as the young hero, never overdoing the tears or pathos. Weaver and Miles have the right amount of authority as his concerned parents. It's obvious that parents can always learn a little something from their children, and the scene where Mark introduces his mom to Ben is terrific. In fact, it is Miles who gives him the name by which he is still known: "Gentle Ben", and even describes him to Weaver as a "darling bear". Look closely for Huntz Hall, "Sach" of the "Bowery Boys" series, playing the teeny-tiny role of one of the fisherman pals of the hunters (lead by the villainess Ralph Meeker). All is good here except for the last 20 or so minutes which takes the story into a disappointing direction that could have been resolved in a different way.
Bear River is the setting for this family drama that has something to entertain everyone, and for those of us who love animals, it's a reminder how gentle wild life can be when they are treated right and left in their own natural habitat. Certainly, the baby bear does follow him around like a puppy, and as it gets bigger (which in bear life isn't long), its gentility towards him continues even though its aggression towards the hunters becomes obvious. By the time Mark is ready to let Ben go free, Ben has obviously come to love him, and the scene of Mark trying to force Ben to go off into the wilderness is emotional, but not maudlin. The aftermath of a lake storm makes the parents take a serious look at the real friendship between Mark and Ben. Even if how it all turns out couldn't likely occur in real life, it is enjoyable to watch play out.
While a family film of the Disney variety, this fortunately lacks the cloying qualities that made the Disney films often irritatingly sickenly sweet. There's more of a reality to this which, mixed with the beautiful fishing lake locale, is glorious for nature lovers as well as fans of good cinematography. The conflict really keeps your attention, and Howard is enjoyable as the young hero, never overdoing the tears or pathos. Weaver and Miles have the right amount of authority as his concerned parents. It's obvious that parents can always learn a little something from their children, and the scene where Mark introduces his mom to Ben is terrific. In fact, it is Miles who gives him the name by which he is still known: "Gentle Ben", and even describes him to Weaver as a "darling bear". Look closely for Huntz Hall, "Sach" of the "Bowery Boys" series, playing the teeny-tiny role of one of the fisherman pals of the hunters (lead by the villainess Ralph Meeker). All is good here except for the last 20 or so minutes which takes the story into a disappointing direction that could have been resolved in a different way.