Twelve-year-old Jay Berry Lee has one goal this summer: to buy his own pony. He plans to work long hours in his grandfather's general store to earn the money for it. But business is slow in this Great Plains farm town circa 1910, and his dream seems unreachable until the day he discovers a group of escaped circus monkeys. Despite his father's warnings and his mother's anger over his irresponsibility, Jay Berry tries everything in his power to capture the comical monkeys and claim the handsome reward offered by their owner. During his efforts, he learns important lessons about tenacity, charity, prioritizing his values, and, yes, monkeys.

Based on the award-winning novel by Wilson Rawls, Summer of the Monkeys brings together a snug ensemble of capable actors. The most recognizable cast members include Wilford Brimley (Cocoon) and the mild-mannered Michael Ontkean (Twin Peaks). Corey Sevier handles the role of Jay Berry Lee with the right blend of preteen adrenaline and emotion. Under the direction of Michael Anderson (Around the World in Eighty Days) the characters treat this moderately paced period piece with great care. Both the story and the dialogue are sensible without being sentimental, a quality that should appeal to all family members. Its clean, upbeat style may remind adult viewers of Disney's wilderness family classics of the 1970s. --Liane Thomas