BIG AND HAIRY • True Friendship • VHS DVD

Actors: Robert Burke, Trevor Jones, Greg Thirloway, Richard Thomas, Chilton Crane

A Review: First you have to get over the weirdness of actor Trevor Jones as a young Sasquatch named Ed (the mythology within the story features more than one, and this one is going on his Mormon-style mission). He's a harmless and kind Bigfoot, like a coyote that finds itself living among men when development infringes on its territory. Robert Karl Burke, whom filmgoers may recognize as the young title character in Prefontaine, plays Picasso, a boy who moves to a basketball-obsessed island in the Pacific Northwest. He tries hard to ingratiate himself among the locals but is having a hard time making friends.

When Ed drops in on Picasso and his family, things begin to change. Ed becomes a popular basketball player and Picasso finds himself with many "friends." The messages in this Showtime movie, directed by Philip Spink (who also directed Showtime's utterly charming Ronnie & Julie), are honorable ones. A nice subtlety is that Picasso's parents (yes, that's Richard Thomas, who once played John Boy Walton, as his dad) are passionate, loving, and very supportive. Look for an emphasis on family, friendship, loyalty, truthfulness--all things parents encourage in their children. The only obvious downside is that Ed can be a little frightening; a three-year-old wouldn't watch the rest of the film after Ed makes his initial appearance. (Ages 6 and older) --N.F. Mendoza