JACK THE BEAR

US, 1993, 99 minutes, Colour.
Danny De Vito, Robert J.Steinmiller Jr, Miko Hughes, Gary Sinise, Art La Fleur, Stefan Gierasch, Erica Yohn, Andrea Marcovici, Julia Louis- Dreyfus, Reese Witherspoon, Bert Remson, Lee Garlington.
Directed by Marshall Herskovitz.

Jack the Bear is a family drama, with touches of comedy, a story of the 1970s from the perspective of 20 years later.

Danny De Vito portrays a television personality, the host of a local horror program which requires him to get made up, pretend to scare his audiences, but is extremely popular. His wife has died and he is left with the responsibility for his two sons, the younger, Dylan, Miko Hughes, with the responsibility on his older son, Jack The Bear, played by Robert J. steinmiller Jr.

In the neighbourhood, is a staunch right-wing neo-Nazi type, played by Gary Sinise.

The plot is complicated with Jack the Bear having to take responsibilities, care of his brother who is eventually abducted, attracted to a young girl at school, played by Reese Witherspoon.

It gets too much for the father, his drinking, and especially his denunciation of the extreme right-wing types on his television program – with Julia Louis- Dreyfus as his studio assistant.

For fans of Danny De Vito and for those who appreciate stories of children growing up and taking responsibility.

1. A film about children? Parents? Death and greeting? Rites of passage?

2. The title, the reference to the son, his age, name, growing up, caring for his brother, dealing with his father, the in-laws, the friends, Karen?

3. The 1972 setting? The film 20 years after the events? New York State, Syracuse, the town, the streets, the neighbourhoods, school? The musical score?

4. Danny De Vito’s John, the focus, his age, character, husband, father, his drinking, the clash with the in-laws? Death of his wife, grief, inability to cope? Relationships?

5. John and his show, television in 1972, host, his costume, the monsters, performance, audiences, enjoying the show? The show, the effect for his sons, for the kids, the neighbours?

6. Jack, his age, having to cope, relationship to Dylan, the bonds? His father, at home, absent, behaviour, drinking, erratic? The personal responsibility – and his learning?

7. Jack at school, Karen, attractive, the bond, the family, escorting her to the door, the meal, the enjoyment, the difficulties and the break?

8. Norman as a neighbour, on his own, his reactions, negative, the dog, monster? Jack, the complaints, the denunciations?

9. The studio, his drinking, the rant against the Neo- Nazis, the effect?

10. Peggy, the character, her work with John, support, with the kids, the other staff, fearing his collapse and failure?

11. Norman, his behaviour, antagonism? The abduction of Dylan? The reaction, the search, the motivations? The rants? The boys return?

12. The picture of the in-laws, the visits, the reactions to Jack, to John, their concern for the children?

13. Final promises, hope?

14. The picture of family, the comic touches, the serious touches, grief and coping, antagonistic neighbours and society? A memoir?