Gentle Ben (2002) (TV)

Director:

David S. Cass Sr.

Writers (WGA):

Walt Morey (novel)
Jim Makichuk (teleplay)

Release Date:

25 March 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Plot Keywords:

Bear | Based On Novel | Character Name In Title

Cast

Dean Cain	...	Jack Wedloe
Corbin Bernsen	...	Fog Benson
William Katt	...	Gittis Malone
Martin Kove	...	Cully
Reiley McClendon	...	Mark Wedloe
Ashley Laurence	...	Dakota
Gil Birmingham	...	Pete
Cody Weiant	...	Ashley Benson
Stephen Bridgewater	...	Norwood Malone (as Stephen W. Bridgewater)
David Atkinson	...	Ranch Hand
J. Karen Thomas	...	Ms. Washborough
Dustin Lopez	...	Gunther
Bonkers	...	Ben
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Beverly Roberts	...	Rescuer with Hunting Dog

Also Known As:

Terror on the Mountain (UK)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Auburn, California, USA

Company:

Gentle Ben Production Company

Goofs:

Continuity: Mark runs away from the bad guys, trips up and knocks himself out. His hat comes off his head. In the next shot his hat is in a different position.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Gentle Ben 2: Danger on the Mountain (2003) (TV)

It Bears Watching

When Mark goes for a visit with his uncle he's thrown into a world he knows not much about. Little does he know it'll be a world he's going to have to become very familiar with. One character Mark becomes very familiar and friendly with is a very tame black bear who he later names Ben. What an amazing treat it must have been for the kids in this movie - Reiley McClendon (who played Mark) and Cody Weint (who played Mark's new friend in town, Ashley) - to work with a black bear so up close and personal. That wonderful creature gave a standout performance. So did the scenery - absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, the director didn't do so well all the way around. This movie was plagued with plot holes, characters who didn't need to be there, and acting performances that just didn't come close enough to being 100% on. This could have been a better movie but that's not to say it wasn't enjoyable. It was... it's one of those for me that I liked but it's not that great which is too bad. Dean Cain was good, Corbin Bernsen was his usual self, his character could have shown better redemption in the end (something that was rather predictable) and as I said, the scenery was just splendid!! A kids movie? No. An adults movie? No. Animal Planet seemed to miss the mark on that... it's really a movie stuck inbetween. This is definitely not an A+ movie... for the life of me I cannot understand how this has gotten so many `10' votes. This isn't terrible, though. My grade for Gentle Ben: C+