The Country Bears [VHS]
Based on the Disney theme park attraction Country Bear Jamboree,The Country Bearsis the tale of one cub's quest to discover his destiny. While a family's love may be unconditional, Beary just doesn't feel a sense of belonging within his family. With a push from his malcontent brother, Beary heads to Country Bear Hall, a place where "you can be different and still fit in." Beary's disillusionment upon finding the hall on the brink of demolition quickly turns to resolve as he realizes his purpose: to reunite the once famous Country Bears band and save the hall. The disparate lives of the ex-band members make the reunion highly implausible, but thanks to Beary's influence, each member soon realizes the power of collective effort. In the process, Beary gets a boost to his self-esteem and discovers how important he is to his own family. This 88-minute presentation features great music and puppetry, a healthy dose of humor, and a wonderful message about diversity and collaborative effort. (Ages 4 to 9)--Tami Horiuchi