Open Season

2006 Comedy

A domesticated grizzly bear finds that there's more to life than being the star attraction of a mountain town nature show when a fast-talking mule deer offers him a crash course in woodland living in Sony Pictures Animation's first full-length animated feature. Raised by kindly park ranger Beth (Debra Messing) since he was a just a cub, 900-pound grizzly Boog (Martin Lawrence) is content to spend his days entertaining Timberline tourists and his nights nestled safely in Beth's luxurious garage. Boog's life is about to get much more complicated, however, when paranoid hunter Shaw (Gary Sinese) returns from a recent foray in the woods with a frightened, one-horn mule deer named Elliot strapped trophy-like to the hood of his truck. Though at first reluctant to answer Elliot's desperate cries for help, gentle giant Boog eventually frees the thankful creature, who in turn decides to teach his hulking friend what it truly means to be free. Subsequently tranquilized and relocated into the wilderness after momentarily reverting to his true animalistic nature, Boog is forced to team with seasoned forest-dweller Elliot in order to find their way out of the woods before hunting season starts and Shaw comes gunning for all creatures great and small. Things are different in the woods than they were back in the safe confines of park ranger Beth's garage, though, and in order to find their way back to Timberline, Boog and Elliot are going to have to rely on the kindness of their fellow creatures, a rowdy and unruly bunch that includes an army of Scottish squirrels led by rogue critter McSquizzy (Billy Connolly), and a productive beaver construction team whose foreman, Reilly (Jon Faverau), is more than willing to lend a helping tail. With hunting season now upon them and time running out as the hunters close in, the unlikely duo of bear and mule deer put their new life lessons to good use by turning the tables on the gun-toting gamesmen, and once again making the woods safe for the furry critters who call the forest home. more..

Director: Roger Allers

Reviews

  • Martin Lawrence and Ashton Kutcher may seem like an odd-sounding comedy team, but in some weird way, they click as voice-actors and cartoon buddies in Open Season.

    Michael Wilmington - The Chicago Tribune

    26 April 2013

  • Though silly and predictable, this animated comedy has stunning visuals, a catchy soundtrack and charming characters that are family-friendly crowd-pleasers.

    Angel Cohn - TV Guide

    26 April 2013

  • Despite that nagging whiff of familiarity, there are enough character quirks and inspired bits of funny business to carry this amiable if slight tale.

    Michael Rechtshaffen - The Hollywood Reporter

    26 April 2013

  • An amusing if slight excursion into nature with a group of animals who turn the tables on their collective nemeses, the hunters.

    Kevin Crust - Los Angeles Times

    26 April 2013

  • The overfamiliar Open Season feels like just another CG 'toon in our 'toon-glutted times.

    - Entertainment Weekly

    26 April 2013

Awards

  • Top Box Office Films

    ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards (2007)

  • Best Animated Effects

    Annie Awards (2007)

     
  • Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie

    Kids' Choice Awards (2007)

     
  • Best Cartoon

    MTV Movie Awards, Russia (2007)