Jack the Bear
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| Jack the Bear | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Marshall Herskovitz |
| Produced by | Bruce Gilbert Peter Burrell |
| Written by | Steven Zaillian |
| Starring | Danny DeVito Robert J. Steinmiller Jr. Miko Hughes Gary Sinise |
| Music by | James Horner |
| Cinematography | Fred Murphy |
| Editing by | Steven Rosenblum |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
| Release date(s) | April 2, 1993 |
| Running time | 99 min. |
| Country |  |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $3 million |
| Gross revenue | $5,145,462 |
| IMDb profile | |
Jack the Bear is a 1993 comedy-drama film starring Danny DeVito. It is based on a novel by Dan McCall.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Jack (Robert J. Steinmiller Jr.) and Dylan Leary (Miko Hughes) and quirky dad John (Danny DeVito) start over in 1972 Oakland, California, with a sinister presence nearby.
John Leary (DeVito) is a comedy/horror TV personality, entertaining his viewing audience during horror movies. He is devoted to his two sons, though his drinking problem does cause issues for the smooth running of the household, as some of his parental duties fall to Jack.
A neighbor, Norman Strick (Gary Sinise) shows up at their home one evening, asking for money for a racially-prejudiced candidate. John refuses, and ends up shutting the door in Strick's face.
Obviously bothered that Strick lives across the street, John gets drunk, and his performance on his TV show mimics the racially-charged beliefs of his neighbor Strick. He is subsequently asked to take time off from his show.
The morning after John's performance, Jack finds Strick's dog dead on their front lawn. Jack encourages John to talk to Strick about it, and though John apologizes for his actions on television and insists he did not kill Strick's dog, Strick refuses to shake John's hand.
Jack had a young love affair with Karen Morris (Reese Witherspoon), but after his father's disastrous performance on television, she breaks up with him. Jack's world begins to tear apart, and the pressure of filling in for his father begins to take its toll. He begins to take out his anger on his younger brother, is seen taking a drink just like his father, and he begins to swear and curse whenever he is angry.
Dylan disappears and a neighbor's child claims Strick kidnapped him. Jack calls the police and he and John are extremely worried until Dylan is found in a nearby forest. Strick has vanished, and days later John takes out his frustration by going to Strick's home with a bat. Strick is not there, and John proceeds to destroy Strick's car with the bat.
John's in-laws, who always disapproved of him, take the boys to their home. Jack decides that he cannot handle the parenting methods of his grandfather (who is always lecturing, and not fun like his father--a realization by Jack that he does like his father), and travels back to his home. HIs father is out, and Jack goes to sleep in his own bed.
Jack awakens to find the electricity is off. John arrives home at the same time, and we can see that Strick has gained entry to the home. Jack knows there is an intruder, and he accidentally hits his father with a bat. Strick says "Home run, Jack" and chases Jack through the upstairs and out the bathroom window. Jack jumps for a branch in a nearby tree, and Sinise pursues him. John has recovered, and yells from the window, warning Strick to stay away from his son. Jack screams for his father. As Strick crawls toward him, Jack watches in horror as the man falls into his neighbor's yard and is attacked by the neighbor's pack of Doberman Pinschers.
In the end scene, Jack tells John that "Nothing is right." "Then we're going to make it all right." DeVito answers, adding "Daddy's here" as he and his son embrace. The final scene fades as John watches his sons playing in the front yard.
[edit] Cast
- Danny DeVito as John Leary
- Robert J. Steinmiller Jr. as Jack Leary
- Miko Hughes as Dylan Leary
- Gary Sinise as Norman Strick
- Art LaFleur as Mr. Festinger
- Stefan Gierasch as Father-in-Law
- Andrea Marcovicci as Elizabeth Leary
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Peggy Etinger
- Reese Witherspoon as Karen Morris
- Lee Garlington as Mrs. Festinger
[edit] Editing
- Continuity: At the end when Jack is playing the piano, Dylan comes downstairs and starts walking towards him. In the next shot, Dylan is back at the stairs again.
[edit] Awards and nominations
[edit] 1994 Young Artist Awards
- Won – Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Actress: Reese Witherspoon
- Nominated – Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Actor: Robert J. Steinmiller Jr.
- Nominated – Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Actor 10 or Younger: Miko Hughes
