Summer of the Monkeys [VHS]
Twelve-year-old Jay Berry Lee has one goal this summer: to buy his own  pony. He plans to work long hours in his grandfather's general store to  earn the money for it. But business is slow in this Great Plains farm town circa 1910, and his dream seems unreachable until the day he discovers a group of  escaped circus monkeys. Despite his father's warnings and his mother's  anger over his irresponsibility, Jay Berry tries everything in his power  to capture the comical monkeys and claim the handsome reward offered by  their owner. During his efforts, he learns important lessons about  tenacity, charity, prioritizing his values, and, yes, monkeys.Based on the award-winningnovelby Wilson  Rawls,Summer of the  Monkeysbrings together a snug ensemble of capable actors. The most  recognizable cast members include Wilford Brimley (Cocoon) and the mild-mannered Michael Ontkean (Twin Peaks). Corey Sevier  handles the role of Jay Berry Lee with the right blend of preteen  adrenaline and emotion. Under the direction of Michael Anderson  (Around the World in Eighty Days) the characters treat this moderately paced period piece with great care.  Both the story and the dialogue are sensible without being sentimental, a  quality that should appeal to all family members. Its clean, upbeat  style may remind adult viewers of Disney's wilderness family classics of  the 1970s.--Liane Thomas