Should the kids see it? Yes. There are a few tear-jerker moments, but overall, this DVD has positive messages for kids of all ages. For more info, see "Bringing the Kids" below.

THE STORY: Once you love someone, they stay in your heart forever. That's the message of this straight-to-DVD sequel to 2003's "Brother Bear," the animated tale of a selfish young Eskimo hunter, Kenai, who was transformed into a bear by the Great Spirits.

This movie picks up with Kenai (voiced by Patrick Dempsey) frolicking with his adopted cub-bear brother, Koda (Jeremy Suarez). The woodland animals are delighting in spring fever, splashing in the river and enjoying the new flowers and greenery, all to the backdrop of Melissa Etheridge's original song, "Welcome to a New Day".

But Kenai dreams of his early life as a human boy and the fun times he had with his friend, Nita (Mandy Moore), a young Eskimo girl. After talking in his sleep, the bear wakes up to Koda ribbing him about who this Nita person is, and why is she so special?

Meanwhile, Nita's a grown woman now, preparing for her wedding to another man. But during the ceremony, the earth splits in half, separating the bride and groom. It's a sign from the Great Spirits that a strong connection still exists between Kenai and Nita. The tribal Shaman suggests that the two join forces in a ritual to sever their childhood bond.

So Nita, newly endowed with the ability to talk to animals, goes into the woodland to find Kenai. She tells him that in order for her to get married, they must travel up the river and burn a special amulet that Kenai gave her when they were kids. During the journey, they re-discover their love for each other, and aren't so sure this is the right thing to do.

Not only that, Koda is dismayed that his big brother has re-connected with Nita. He's jealous and afraid the bear will want to turn back into a human.

Like the first movie, this one has lush scenery, great voices, wonderful Native American music, and original songs by Melissa Etheridge and Josh Kelley. Once again, Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas provide the voices for Tuke and Rutt, two moose who offer comic relief in their quest to attract the attention of two "moosettes". Other voices include Michael Clarke Duncan, Wanda Sykes, Wendie Malick, Catherine O'Hara, Kathy Najimy, and Jim Cummings.

With a powerful message about love and friendship, and a nice blend of action, suspense, and comedy, this is one sequel that might actually be better than the original!

BONUS FEATURES: - Behind the Music of Brother Bear 2: A behind-the-scenes peek at the new songs of "Brother Bear 2," featuring conversations with Melissa Etheridge, Josh Kelley, and the filmmakers about the music and how it influenced the storyline.

- Games and Activities: "Trample off, Eh?" Help everyone's favorite moose brothers impress the moosettes by answering trivia questions.

- Sneak Peeks for "Twitches," "Cars," "Cinderella III," "Enchanted Tales: A Kingdom of Kindness," and "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse".

- Spanish and French language tracks.

BRINGING THE KIDS:

PRESCHOOLERS (ages 2-5): Talking animals? Check. Fun characters? Check. Life lessons? Check. This is a great movie for kids 3 and older, because the story moves along, and at just 73 minutes, it'll hold the attention of little ones from start to finish. Also, the songs don't drag the story down, which is often the case with kid-movies. However, there are some sad scenes, involving Nita and Koda's departed mothers, as well as one scene where it appears that Kenai may have died after going over a cliff. If you have sensitive kids, be prepared to do some explaining about death, spirits, and keeping people in our hearts long after they're gone.

The action is fairly mild, including one scene with Nita fending off a hoard of angry raccoons, another where she and Koda get trapped in an avalanche, and a showdown between bears and spear-wielding Eskimos. But it's Disney, so you know there's a happy ending in store.

GRADE-SCHOOLERS (ages 6 - 10): Those silly moose and their quest to gain the attention of two "moosettes" (who aren't the least bit impressed) are the appeal for this age group. Though funny, the moose-talk ventures into grown-up territory: "getting the munchies" while watching the Northern Lights; telling a moosette, "I'm a hoof man"; calling Koda a "babe magnet"; and "I thought I was gonna wet my hooves," after witnessing a scary event. Also, the moose decide to roll in the mud to attract the girls, then discover that "it's not mud." But it's all pretty tame, and comical enough to keep grade-schoolers happy.

TWEEN/TEEN (ages 11+): Nita is a strong, independent girl who's willing to take on challenges and have fun at the same time. Though this movie skews a bit young for tweens and teens, she's a great role model for girls of all ages. Also, the friends rely on each other to face their fears and get through the tough times, and that's such an important lesson for all of us to learn.

SCORE: 3.5 out of 4 Reels