The Magic of the Golden Bear: Goldy III
By Brian Costello,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Run-of-the-mill kid-meets-wild-animal tale with a few guns.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
Jessie is a tomgirl who hates school but dreams of performing in a circus with her best friend -- a bear named Goldy. But Goldy is a wild animal, and her family -- as much as they too love Goldy -- know that the time is coming soon when Goldy must return to the wild. In the meantime, Goldy must avoid a trio of bumbling poachers (with the assistance of a man named Freedom [Mr. T] who is believed by townspeople to be a ghost spirit) and a conniving magician (Cheech Marin) who wants to swindle the bear away from Goldy's family and take it on the entertainment circuit. Jessie must work to protect Goldy, but must also realize that Goldy is a wild animal and not a pet.
Is It Any Good?
In some respects, THE MAGIC OF THE GOLDEN BEAR: GOLDY III is a run-of-the-mill film about a child bonding with a wild animal (and the third in a series of Goldy movies -- all with similar themes). The wild animal (in this case, a bear), is extraordinarily gifted at riding a bike and understanding human speech, behaves more like a tame dog, and loves its human family as if there are no differences between humans and animals. The two aspects that separate this movie from others like it are the actors Cheech Marin and Mr. T, who, all-in-all, turn in entertaining performances; the former as an over-the-top magician, and the latter as a man living in the wild who is rumored by the townspeople to be a ghost spirit and is frequently seen in the movie conversing with a raven.
The movie does drag at times, and the acting is generally not the best. Still, the movie does have enough presence of mind to make it clear to everyone that the bear Goldy is not a pet, but a wild animal who must eventually return to the wild. In spite of this movie's obvious flaws, this crucial distinction should get kids thinking.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about movies with children bonding with wild animals. Do you think the relationship between the girl Jessie and the bear Goldy is realistic? Why or why not?
What are the similarities and differences between this film and other films where kids love wild animals who act tame?
As a movie set in the late-19th century, what are some of the activities kids are shown doing for fun?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: January 1, 1995
- Cast: Cheech Marin, Danny Woodburn, Mr. T
- Director: John Quinn
- Inclusion Information: Latinx actors, Black actors
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Wild Animals
- Run time: 104 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- Last updated: December 7, 2022
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate