A domesticated bear learns what life is like on the wild side in the animated feature OPEN SEASON. Boog, voiced by Martin Lawrence, has always had it made. His owner Beth has trained him as a show bear, with Boog entertaining children with tricks and acts on stage. He also enjoys many of the same comforts as a pet, with a cozy bed, treats and some occasional television. Boog’s world gets a serious shake-up when a wild dear named Elliot arrives. Elliot tests Boog’s temperament, and Beth believes its time for Boog to return to his natural habitat.
OPEN SEASON is a reversal of sorts from this summer’s OVER THE HEDGE. Where OVER THE HEDGE showed wild animals exploring domestication, OPEN SEASON takes a domesticated animal into the wild. Both films come to the same conclusion, but OVER THE HEDGE does so in a much more joyous, exciting, and most importantly, humorous way. OPEN SEASON mimics the antics of better films from OVER THE HEDGE to FINDING NEMO, but doesn’t know the beat quite as well. The sassy squirrels and dry-humored ducks fall flat, and seem like rip-offs of better, more thought out Disney characters. Surprisingly, OPEN SEASON does get some good voice work. Lawrence brings a warm nature to Boog, Ashton Kutcher’s goofy inflection works to perfection as Elliot and Debra Messing’s sweet and calming voice is ideal as Beth. OPEN SEASON isn’t a failure, just a poor copy of better animated fare.
Grade: C
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