THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE WILDERNESS FAMILY offers more of the same as the first film, albeit with a couple of changes: the setting is now winter rather than summer, adding a chilly, snowbound and occasionally claustrophobic feel to the proceedings, and the main threat now isn't a rampaging grizzly bear but rather a pack of ravenous wolves. All of the cast are back in their by now familiar roles, and the photography and direction are both brisk and efficient.

The Robinson family is back, facing its first winter in the valley surrouded by huge mountain ranges, a gorgeous lake, and all the beautiful faces of nature that a family movie can offer. It is also annoyingly "cute", bringing on the character of Boomer to add a Mr. Edwards ("Little House on the Prairie") feel to the plot. After warning the family about the sighting of a vicious pack of wolves, he creates more nuisance before heading off to the mountain pass. The family faces issues with the presence of a vicious cougar before the wolves arrive, threatening to spoil Christmas. Then, there's a repeat of the cloying theme song and some new tunes as well sung over overly adorable scenes of the family playing around in the snow with their baby bears, racoon, recurring visits from the tame adult brown bear and an eagle who isn't the friend to Boomer that he thinks he is, flying off with his hat in one slightly amusing sequence. Boomer gives the old coots played by George "Gabby" Hayes and Walter Brennan in those old westerns nothing to worry about.

Add snow to a huge lake region surrounded by mountains and put it on a big screen, and you are bound to have a movie that is at lease gorgeous to look at. The family briefly leaves the mountain to head into a nearby (by a hundred miles or so) city for Christmas shopping, and come back to their home on the lake where the racoon, baby bears and big brown bear great them like overly loving pets. Yes, there are shots of beavers, foxes, baby wild cats, a ram and Boomer's goats, so the animal love quotient is a-plenty. But where is the story? The one conflict (dealing with the wolves) is more of a concern for worry than actually on screen, and of course, it is resolved too quickly until the last 20 minutes when everything that can go wrong (which includes an avalanche) does go wrong, but by that time, the sudden entry of a plot seems too late. Samson, the big tame bear, creates more fun than the humans when he becomes very picky about chosing a cave to hybernate in through the winter.

Other than a few minor conflicts, the family gets along far too well to be believable, giving it a modern "Little House on the Prairie" feel. Once again, the debate of whether or not they can hack wilderness living creates a desire for some of the characters to return to civilization, but it is obvious how that will be resolved, as is the plot device of the mother getting sick after the kids are briefly lost. Unlike this movie, 'Litttle House" amusing supporting characters so it wasn't always about the family, but this sequel to a decent first entry is a real stretch in keeping interest for 90 minutes. It's a desperate attempt to create a sequel when there wasn't a need for one, or at least one that didn't have a good script. The overly dramatic music becomes quite manipulative in trying to manipulate emotions and the real conflict becomes getting through the movie without fast-forwarding. I would have to be pretty desperate to turn into the third installment of this family's saga unless they get some amusing neighbors who resemble the Olsens from "Little House".

The Robinson family face further perils in the form of a fierce blizzard, an avalanche, and an especially ferocious pack of wolves led by the fearsome Scarface. In between these harrowing situations the Robinsons relish the simple pleasures of living in the woods as well as happily celebrate both Thanksgiving and Christmas together.

Director Frank Zuniga keeps the enjoyable and eventful story moving along at a steady pace as well as maintains a pleasant tone throughout. Of course, we get the usual assortment of adorable animals along with a few nasty ones. The appealing and attractive cast help a lot: Robert Logan as rugged dad Skip, Susan Damante as fretful mom Pat, Heather Rattray as spunky teen daughter Jenny, and Ham Larson as sweet son Toby. Moreover, the always welcome George "Buck" Flower lends lively support as scruffy and crotchety mountain man Boomer, who becomes an adopted member of the family. Barry Williams of "The Brady Bunch" fame warbles a few delightfully corny songs on the soundtrack. John Hora's lovely and sunny cinematography offers plenty of breathtaking footage of the gorgeous sylvan scenery. A worthy follow-up.