Belle's Tale of Friendship MPAA Rating: G Entertainment: +2 Content: +4

Belle, the heroine of Disneys feature film BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, returns in this sequel. Belle has left the beasts castle and has a book and music shop in the enchanted village. Her friends include two bookworms, Lewis and Carroll, Big Book and Harmony, the cat. Although Belle is played by an actress, many of her companions are animated. At the bookshop, she gathers boys and girls around her, urging them to work together and help each other so tasks can be fun. When they dont want to cooperate, she tells them stories about friends working together. "Hansel and Gretel," "Three Little Pigs," "The Wise Little Hen" and a story about a little moose with big antlers teaming up with a big moose with small antlers all stress friends helping friends. Then Belle recalls a special time when she lived in the castle with the beast. Mrs. Potts, the motherly teapot becomes depressed, so Belle organizes the castle fixtures to surprise her with a party. There are lots of cheery songs to go along with each story and youngsters age six and under will find much to enjoy in this 70-minute video.

Some slightly scary scenes should be noted, however. The witch who captures Hansel and Gretel pours a magic potion on them to turn them into a spider and a rat. Also, the big bad wolf in the story of three pigs ends up in a pot of boiling water. These few incidents, however, are far outnumbered by positive messages about friendship and helping each other.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Disney Home Videos, Buena Vista, 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521, (818) 560-1000