Don't believe the critics. With songs by John Hiatt, vocals by Hiatt, Don Henley, and Bonnie Raitt, and appearances by Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah, and rockabilly hero Brian Setzer, The Country Bears is far hipper than the animatronic troupe of fuzz balls from the old Disneyland theme show. The fantasy story plays out like a fur-covered The Commitments, with a bright dose of the old "let's put on a show" plot twist, but the young target audience won't find the familiar story line tiresome in the least, and parents will be relieved to see the Bears have soul, not just in their tunes but also in their intentions as well. Only the crustiest curmudgeon will complain that none of the humans in the film question the fact that the bears talk, walk upright, wear clothing, and can play guitar. This warm and fuzzy winner was drummed out of theaters by tepid reviews (a situation which unfortunately may preclude sequels), but the small screen at home may be the best place to watch this anyway. The Country Bears deserves an audience.