This is truly one of the weirdest experiences of my movie-going life.
First of all I ordered it on DVD for the strangest reasons: as a kid I had fond memories of watching Dan Haggerty in the wonderful TV-show "The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams" (on English cable), and yearning for a way to see good old Dan "back in action" I searched the web to see whether any "Grizzly Adams" was available on DVD. Sadly it wasn't but in my search I came across "Escape to Grizzly Mountain" - an obvious low budget production that (it turns out) has nothing to do with the character of Grizzly Adams, despite starring Haggerty in a character very much like his famous part on TV. So, not being able to get the real thing I was so desperate to revisit my memories of Dan "Grizzly Adams" Haggerty that I ordered this movie.
In fact the movie opens with a disclaimer, informing the viewer that the character is in no relation to "Grizzly Adams". Sure, like I care. Here you have Haggerty playing a peace-, nature-, animal-loving guy living in a house in the 1841 wilderness of America, and his two best friends in the world is a big old grizzly bear and a native American! You can't come any closer than that without actually hitting the target dead on!
And then there's the rest of the story: you got veteran child actor Miko Hughes (the kid who gives Arnold the memorable line 'Boys have a penis, girls have a vagina' in 1990's "Kindergarten Cop") playing a kid who wants to save a bear cub from a circus run by a mean old lady, and through a native American working at the circus he learns of a cave that supposedly can transport people "with a pure heart" back in time. He steals the bear cub, treks of into the mountains searching for the cave and ends up in: 1841 where he meets... Dan Haggerty... TADA!!! I won't reveal much more of the story, other then saying that Haggerty in turn has to go back with him to the year 2000 (!) and naturally they have a fun little adventure before reaching their goal.
As I mentioned earlier this really is a weird experience, because the production is cheap and sadly some TERRIBLE acting does it's best to try and sink the ship. Who is that poor lady playing the mean old circus owner? My God.. Amateur hour... but let's blame the director. It is also a crying shame to see top-billed (!) Jan-Michael Vincent in a one minute appearance as a trapper. It was the first I had seen of him in years and the once great and cool actor is a tragic sight, messed up by alcohol and a hard life :(
The movie does however have it's moments: Dan Haggerty is wonderful as his lovable old self (a highlight is his reaction on seeing a motorcycle-dude speed by on a Harley). Also Miko Hughes is good (the little bloke has more acting-experience than most of the grown-ups in this production), Miles O'Keeffe (TARZAN!) is okay as a cop and Jay Tavare is great as Haggerty's 1841 indian friend. To top it all off that bear cub is A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E. No kidding, take the cutest puppy you ever saw in your life, add little goochie-goochie-goo-soundbytes, sprinkle him with sugar and you got Dudley (as the cub is named in the movie).
The best thing is still the story. Sure it's simple, but it's still the kind of fantasy that makes you all warm inside. In fact it reminded me of the kind of wonderful dreams one could have as a child, you know, the ones where you felt sad to wake up and tried to force yourself back to sleep to continue the experience.
BUT to see it all presented in such a cheap way is kind of sad. This is a story that REALLY deserved a bigger treatment, if not on the big screen perhaps the Hallmark network should have had a go at it in stead. And had it even been produced for the big screen they still should have kept Dan Haggerty, as he really is half the show. Oh well, no use in crying over spilt milk :/
Did I enjoy it? Sure, but the story deserved a better presentation. Also: youngsters should love it.
