The Bears and I

I haven't seen "The Bears and I" in many, many years. Shame on me. Wow, this movie really hit the spot. The story, acting and animals are all great. The standout of this movie is the location photography. It's truly beautiful. I remember I had the book when I was a kid. I wish I could read it now. "The Bears and I" is that good.

This is one of those tattered movies you pick up from the Family 50 cent racks. Surprisingly good movie. Music by John Denver and good performance from Chief Dan George. Also serves as a gentle introduction to concerns about the environment and native issues for younger folks. Strength of the movie is the story-line.

Much like the films of the 1960s, The Bears and I has that same nostalgia feeling. Later films wouldn't feel the same. The narration adds to the value in my opinion. Very similar to Charlie the Lonesome Cougar in a few ways. Patrick Wayne was great as Bob Leslie, the man who fosters the bears.

I suppose you have to be a fan of the Disney narrative to truly enjoy this picture. Only a true loyal fan can see that this isn't a bad movie. It's what we've come to expect from Disney of the time period, family oriented stories with a touch of class and heart.

Upon watching "The Bears And I", one will see just how far the Disney company had gone downhill eight years after Walt Disney's death. To be fair, not all of the movie is bad. It's a rare '70s movie that shows a Vietnam vet to be well-adjusted and not suffering from any post-combat problems. The scenery is nice, the bears are adorable, and Patrick Wayne, though a little stiff, makes a likable character. Also, it's always nice to see Chief Dan George. And speaking of Native Americans, it's interesting that unlike other '70s movies dealing with Native Americans, this movie doesn't always portray them as 100% sympathetic. Though despite positive stuff like this, much of the movie is a chore to sit through. For one thing, there's too much unnecessary narration, when silence would have been enough. There are also too many similar scenes of the bears making mischief - the movie seems to be repeating itself at times. There's also forced slapstick, bad looping done in the editing room, and an unbearable long subplot of the local Native Americans being threatened with eviction - it would have been better if the movie would have stuck with the bears (though at the same time made sure they gave the bear scenes some variety.) If Walt Disney had been alive when this project was proposed, I'm sure he would have wisely killed the project, or at least sent the screenplay back for some serious rewriting - he usually had a good idea as to what kind of projects would attract an audience.

"A man seeking peace and quiet finds himself father to three bears."

Well, with that synopsis, I was instantly sold. This was a simple, easy to watch Disney live action film from the 1970s. I didn't even know John Wayne had a son, but Patrick Wayne is the lead here - oddly reminding me more of Charlton Heston than the Duke.

The acting is incredibly wooden, and often awkward. Thankfully (and somewhat amusingly), Wayne has better chemistry with the bears and wilderness than he does his human co-stars.

"The Bears and I" isn't the type of film you watch for technical aspects. You won't find any Oscar awards here. Instead, you'll experience some of the most breathtaking scenery put to film. The British Columbia landscapes and wilderness are the real stars of the film here - besides the bears of course!

Scratch, Patch and Rusty were fantastic. You can't help but watch with a smile at times - even though it's often super cheesy. The Native American angle also added an interesting element to the story. Reminded me a tiny bit of a Disney-esque "Jeremiah Johnson". The John Denver song suited it perfectly.