Susan Granger’s review of “Open Season” (Sony Pictures)
Joining Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks and Fox, Sony Pictures Imageworks jumps into the animation ring with its first CGI adventure comedy, based on comic strips by Steve Moore (“In the Bleachers”).
Set in the tiny town of Timberline, the tale revolves around Boog (voiced by Martin Lawrence), a delightfully domesticated 900 lb. Grizzly bear who has been raised since he was a cub by Beth (voiced by Debra Messing of “Will & Grace”), a gentle forest ranger. But living in a comfortable converted garage and his own TV set, and served eight square meals a day, Boog has never learned any essential survival skills.
So when he suddenly finds himself stranded in the woods only three days before Open Season, along with a scrawny, manipulative mule deer named Elliot (voiced by Ashton Kutcher), he’s aghast. Where are the comforts of home? While bewildered Boog searches for his inner grizzly, he and Elliot are forced to rely on one another, becoming unlikely buddies. Eventually, they rally the other four-legged forest creatures, including a squirrel curmudgeon, McSquizzy (hilariously voiced by Billy Connolly), a pair of fast-talking skunks, two shell-shocked ducks and members of Elliot’s former her, to protect their territory and retaliate against the villainous Shaw (voiced by Gary Sinese), a maniacal hunter, and the other prowling, predatory humans.
Directed by and Jill Culton (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 2”) and Roger Allers (“The Lion King”) and co-directed by Anthony Stacchi (“Antz”), this is a PG-rated cartoon feature for an audience of tiny tots who may find the hunters’ guns a bit frightening. But rest assured that no vulnerable creature is harmed – and there’s a happy ending. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Open Season” is a mischievous, spunky 6 – aimed at family fun.
