'Jack the Bear' is drama set in the Seventies revolving around Leary family and their first summer since the loss of their wife and mother. John hosts a late-night horror show and, while he has an understanding of television, he struggles to be a proper father to his sons, thirteen-year-old Jack and four-year-old Dylan. Instead Jack is left to be a substitute parent to his young brother while not only going through adolescence but is also struggling with the recent loss of his mother.

This film is a much darker version of the subjects brought up in 'My Girl' with the lead here being a boy instead of a girl. It was quite interesting to see a boy (instead of a girl who is usually cast in such movies) cope with the loss and guilt over his mother's death, shouldering the responsibility of caring for his little brother and alcoholic father and learning the lessons of his first love.

One of the main themes of the film is coming-of-age, both for Jack and his father. John is relearning how to be a parent without his partner by his side and redefining his relationship with his boys. As for Jack, as a boy of thirteen, he is starting to see life through an adult's eyes as he lets go of childhood innocence. One of the harshest lessons of the adultworld he learns, is that not all monsters are ugly things who live in the closet and humans can be evil too when his younger brother kidnapped by a Nazi neighbour who harbours a grudge against his father and a young lad in his neighbourhood develops some Nazi traits when he turns to the wrong person for a role model.

This films is really enjoyable, both with cute moments (Jack's little brother is adorable) and darker, angstier times. Definitely worth a look.

DeVeto gives the performance of his career in this lesser known film. A period piece set in the early 1970's, about a widower raising two young boys alone. His wife is killed in an auto accident shortly after storming out the house because she and Jack had an argument. He blames himself, and turns to alcohol. A touching and comic film that did not get the attention it deserves. This is a must see.

"Jack the Bear" is a touching, underrated piece of cinema with fine performances all-around. Danny DeVito gives one of his best performances, combining his knack for comedy with his knack for serious drama. His character rings very true to life. Many people who seem extremely happy and always crack jokes are actually hiding tons of emotion baggage. Just look at most comedians. How many of them live clean, happy lives? DeVito's character, John, knew how to make people laugh and smile, but the only one who could see what's hiding behind his smile is his eldest son, Jack. I know people like John, who are almost always cheerful, but later on I found out they're really crying on the inside.

DeVito steals the show, like he usually does, but the rest of the cast is superb as well. The boy who plays the son is quite good, though his emotional outbursts are sometimes hammy. Miko Hughes, who was terrific in "Mercury Rising" with Bruce Willis, delivers a wonderful performance even though he hardly says a word throughout the film. His facial expressions and body language, especially considering how young he was, is impressive enough. Reese Witherspoon shows that she was just as cute and charming back then, as she is now (everyone should check out her very first film, "Man in the Moon"). Gary Sinise gives one of his most creepy, powerful performances as a racist Nazi loner, who threatens the children in the neighborhood. The scenes with him are extremely compelling, almost heart-stopping.

This is a fascinating, uplifting story that's only sometimes manipulative. I was very touched, and some scenes even brought me to tears. John is the type of character you feel much sympathy for, despite the fact that he's an alcoholic and tends to cause a scene. You feel even more sorry for him because of that. We don't want to see his life go through this downward spiral. Yet nobody's perfect. We all have our fatal flaws.

My score: 8 (out of 10)