When Billy (Doug McKeon) returns home from World War II, he's embittered about the medical treatment that led to having part of his leg amputated after he was wounded in the Iwo Jima assault. His grandfather (Wilford Briml... more »ey), anticipating Billy's difficult transition back to civilian life, has bought a couple of redbone hound puppies for the young man--the same dogs he had as a boy, a story told in Where the Red Fern Grows. Billy resists at first but slowly bonds with the dogs, and when a young neighbor boy wants to learn how to hunt raccoons, Billy takes the boy under his wing. Meanwhile, Billy's closest friend and war buddy finds himself wooing Billy's sister Sarah, to Billy's discomfort. Where the Red Fern Grows II (or Part 2, as it's called in the credits) is a fairly straightforward and sentimental tale, but it keeps saccharine at bay by sticking with its characters and treating their lives with respect. Toward the end, when Billy and his grandpa go on a final raccoon hunt together, the movie may try a little too hard to recapture the sadness of the first film, but family audiences will appreciate its unpretentious and genuine tale of life lessons and small-town values. Dog fans in particular will enjoy the extensive montage of the dogs growing up and learning to hunt. --Bret Fetzer« less
Slow burn but solid part 2 story of where the Red Fern Grows with some actors of the past that you know. A must watch for the whole family!
Rory C. Reviewed on 10/3/2008...
Since I've seen the first one, I'm curious to see this one, too.
0 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Yvette T. (Yvette) from RUTLAND, MA Reviewed on 12/8/2007...
I have the box set With the first movie
0 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Stacey R. (Stacelito) from LANCASTER, OH Reviewed on 12/8/2007...
This is a very touching sequel to the first movie and is very well done. My children really loved it but didn't like being so sad at the end.
2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
Some what better than Part I
T.C. | Right Behind Carl Albert High School | 08/02/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ok, some people may completely disagree that this is better than Part I but I can't stand the first one. Its WAY to sad and depressing, not to say it isn't worth seeing if you havn't seen it yet. "Where the Red Fern Grows 2" is years after the first one and Billy is now returning home after fighting in World War II. His grandpa (Wilford Brimley) suprises him with two red-bone hounds just like the ones he had when he was a boy. At first he doesn't accept them but finally takes them to train them to track down racoons. Has a little bit of humor and is to a point more mature than the first. Even though you won't be able to hold back tears at the end, you will treasure this classic later on and come back to see it again and again. A must-have."
Bad storyline, worse acting
Hound Hunter | Kenna, WV | 12/22/2005
(1 out of 5 stars)
"The storyline was weak, the acting was worse.
I hadn't seen part 1 since I was a kid, I ordered both the original and part 2. We watched the original Sunday and my wife an I enjoyed it. We watched Part 2 on Wednesday, and both were rolling our eyes throughout. The actor portraying Billy did a poor job. It is obvious that he is not a dog person, or was over acting.
The story line left a lot of holes, kind of like reading the back cover of a book instead of reading the book. Not many exciting moments throughout.
Overall the acting was overdone and no character really captured you attention.
Overall it was a feeble attempt to capture the basics of the first movie that clearly missed the mark."
Stick with Part 1!
Joe Comer | Robinson, IL United States | 02/27/2000
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Nearly everything about this film pales in comparison to the original! From the technical aspects-cinematography, editing, sound, ect.-to the writing and overall acting, it makes you want to pop the first film in the DVD player and watch it yet again.One of the criteria for judging a movie such as this is how easily and naturally it causes the tears to flow. With part 1, I was in tears with no difficulty at all. The drama was so real and spontaneous. But with the second film you get the feeling they are trying to grab your eyeballs to squeeze every little tear out of them. This makes for very strained proceedings indeed.Everything considered, Wilford Brimley and Doug McKeon DO manage to rise slightly above the material and keep this film from getting a one-star rating but I still think you're better off sticking with the original."
Very good story
Joe Comer | 05/19/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I remember the first and just seems this one picks up where the First movie left off. Any animal lover will enjoy this."