Customer Reviews

Growing Up Grizzly

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Although short, 47 minutes, Growing Up Grizzly is packed with scenes showing Doug and Lynne Seus working and playing with their grizzlies, Bart, Little Bart, Honey-Bump, and Tank. Little Bart and Honey-Bump's first year of life, which even includes home movies of the Alaska state trouper who first adopted the two tiny orphans, is the spotlight of this film, but ample space is given to Bart the Bear (of movie fame, and who died during filming) and Tank, grizzly star of Doctor Dolittle 2. For better or for worse, Brad Pitt's narration and cameo appearance are minimal.

If you are fascinated by wild animals and their interactions with humans you will be amazed with shots of Doug playing around with his head in Bart Senior's mouth, rehearsal and training of the charismatic Tank for his role in Dr Dolittle 2, the orphans first trip to town and ice cream cones, and the whole family's voyage to Hollywood where you see bears and humans interacting on the set and in the studio lot. Doug and Lynne bring you into their home and life-long love of animals with memories and photos of their first animals and small children, interviews and shots with their daughter Sausha working with the little cubs, and their family's establishment of Vital Ground, a foundation that acquires private land to protect America's wilderness and wildlife. You come to understand that Bart, Tank, and the cubs are truly a part of the Seus family and Bart's death causes as much grief as a human child's would. But mostly, Little Bart and Bump steal the show with their youthful rough housing, their day-to-day transformation from lap size teddy bears to formidable adolescent bears, and their discovery of man's world and that movie sets do come apart. An inspiring film for any animal lover.

More information on the Seus's foundation, Vital Ground, can be found at vitalground.org.

I am looking for this movie to buy on DVD but have had no luck finding it anywhere. Can anyone tell me where I can purchase this movie? Thanks!

This is by far one of the most incredible wildlife films I have ever seen (and I have seen alot). It has forever changed the way I see these amazing animals. I have seen it several times and it never ceases to touch my very soul. A must see for all ages!

this is a movie for all animal lovers everywhere. We love bart the bear and his owners .The only con to this film is brad pitt he seems so artificial and he does not have the right to be in this film. We highly hope you love this as much as we do.

I am so impressed by the stature of Bart--plus the personality of these animals demands that mankind consider the soul of people and animals before causing harm.

Doug Seuss' performance as a bear trainer is incredible! He's able to make himself the two-legged equivalent of a grizzly while participating in their never-ending rough-and-tumble play and maintaining control. The death of Bart is a sad moment; fortunately the Seuss' also obtain two new grizzly cubs at about the same time, and this video documents their growing up and learning to be movie actors. A side impact is that it destroys any belief that grizzlies are uncaring, unthinking and beastly.

Brad Pitt's narration was also impressive - not some dry, condescending reading, but that of a person who is also quite impressed with the Seuss's and their bears.