Knut and His Friends

Knut, became a world celebrity when his polar bear mother rejected him after birth and he was raised by his keeper at the Berlin Zoo. This documentary follows very closely the interaction of the adorable bear cub and his keeper who was required to care for him basically 24 hours a day. Two other related stories are featured in the movie: a pair of brown bear cubs in Belarus whose mother has been killed and a polar bear mother raising three cubs.

Knut is the poster bear for his endangered family and the global warming that is melting the ice caps. The movie touches lightly on those themes but its focus is on the bears' interaction and development with Knut as the main star -- which he is.

There are some cheesy aspects such as the narrator being the wind and a second rate chirpy R&B soundtrack, however, one has to consider that this film is intended for young children. As such, it is relatively light and breezy yet educative, moving, and entertaining. This is a must see for families with children under 12 and viewers of all ages whose inner child loves bears and nature.