Brothers of the Frontier (1996)

Joseph Lawrence is Ethan Frye, out hunting with his brothers on his ma’s birthday when he returns home with a buck he’s shot to find a buckboard sitting in front of the family’s cabin.

Seems rich neighbor Byron Holcomb has come calling with his sons, Hiram and Ned. Hiram is accusing Ethan of killing the buck on Holcomb land; Ned reluctantly backs up that story.

So the elder Holcomb demands $200 as compensation, money he knows the Frye family doesn’t have. Or Ethan can spend two years as a bond servant on his farm.

And if Ethan won’t serve the time, it will be up to his dad Ben to do so.

Rather than put up a fight, the Frye family — which also includes younger sons Aaron (Matthew Lawrence) and Jamie (Andrew Lawrence) — heads West.

But on a raft trip down the rapids, children are separated from parents.

That leaves the three Frye boys to fend for themselves, with hazards like Indians and grizzly bears to the West and trackers on their trail.

All the while they wonder if they’ll ever see their parents again.

Review:

Entertaining family fun as long as it’s being viewed by 6-8 year old boys and girls 12 and under. For anyone older, the hokeyness is well beyond groan worthy.

These Lawrence boys are just so darn cute, even the prettiest Indian girls are bound to fall for them.

And so brave. They just keep saving lives. Even the lives of their enemies.

The initial premise is ludicrous, of course. So is the idea that the entire family could be swept away in the rapids, their rafts busted to pieces and every single family member — including the pet dog — survive with nary a scratch.

The best thing about the film is Carmen Moore’s performance as Chewlynndit, the Indian maiden Ethan falls for, even though she’s promised to another. Problem is, she comes off as way too mature and wise for Ethan.

All that said, it’s harmless family fun if that’s what you’re looking for.

Directed by:
Mark Sobel

Cast:
Joseph Lawrence … Ethan Frye
Matthew Lawrence … Aaron Frye
Andrew Lawrence … Jamie Frye
Carmen Moore … Chewlynndit
Jonathan Frakes … Ben Frye
Sandra Nelson … Sarah Frye
Don S. Davis … Byron Holcomb
Mark-Paul Gosselaar … Hiram Holcomb
Michael Cram … Ned Holcomb
Doug Abrahams … Tavish
Darrell Dennis … Tasunke
David Longworth … Dr. Bryant

Runtime: 91 min.

Memorable lines:

Ned Holcomb, on the suggestion that men be hired to track down the Fryes: “Pa, it’s crazy. It was a buck. That’s all. Couldn’t be worth more than 10, 15 dollars at most. All this is just about a deer.”
Bryon Holcomb, his dad: “You’re wrong, boy. It’s about the respect the name Holcomb gets, the fear it fires up in the hearts of those who try to take what’s ours. One man, one times shows them they can get away with something, the whole thing falls apart. Now you figure maybe that’s worth more than 10 or 15 dollars?”

Ethan Fyre: “How come you speak English so well?”
Chewlynndit: “Many natives speak English. Why do you not speak a native tongue?”

Chewlynndit to Ethan: “I believe what my grandfather used to tell me. Eyes that met the way ours did, and hold tightly, are meant to meet again — many times.”

Michael Cram as Ned Holcomb, the more reasonable of the Holcomb brothers in Brothers of the Frontier (1996)

Don S. Davis as Byron Holcomb, teaching his sons the importance of fear and respect in Brothers of the Frontier (1996)