Video/DVD Review: Open Season 2
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this is a funny, occasionally
crude animated comedy that pits wild animals against
domesticated pets in a race to save a conflicted dachshund. The
trappings of domestication - leashes, treats, RVs - are
presented as entrapment, at least from the perspective of the
"wilds." But it ultimately delivers a nice message about the
devotion between pets and their owners. While it might be
helpful to see the original before viewing this, it's not
imperative - kids will still be able to follow along with the
action.
Families can talk about Mr. Weenie's dilemma. If you have pets,
do you think they ever wish they were free? What would be the
pluses and minuses of being free for an animal used to living
inside? What do you think wild animals might envy about
domesticated life?
In this straight-to-DVD sequel to Open Season, OPEN SEASON 2 leaves the anti-hunting rhetoric mostly behind and takes on pet ownership. Elliott the mule deer (now voiced by Joel McHale) is supposed to be marrying Giselle (Jane Krakowski) as the movie opens. But Elliott has an attack of cold feet, conveniently explained by the disappearance of Mr. Weenie the dachshund - a former pet who has embraced live in the "vild" only to be lured back by his well-meaning owners en route to the Pet Paradiso RV resort. Elliott, Giselle, and a motley crew of forest animals take off in pursuit of Mr. Weenie, but don't anticipate the venom with which the dogs and cats of the RV park will fight the encroachment of the wild on their now-natural habitat.
This sequel loses something of the star wattage of the voice performers in the original - Ashton Kutcher and Martin Lawrence voiced Elliott and Boog the bear in the first movie - but with Krakowski and Billy Connolly returning to their roles, it still manages to entertain and amuse. In part the entertainment value comes from the richly imagined characters, from a perpetually angry Scottish squirrel to a psychopathic French poodle named Fifi (Crispin Glover, who else?) The depiction of crazily devoted pet owners - and the subtle way in which they have come to look like their pets - is also effective.
But in the end this is a buddy film, with Elliott realizing
that to survive he'll need the help of his friends - and that
includes his fiancc. What Giselle sees in Elliott is
mystifying, between his hysteric tendencies and his
unwillingness to commit, but since this is a movie aimed at
kids we'll give it a pass. It's a fine family entertainment
choice that may have children rethinking their assumptions
about the family pet.
Over the Hedge
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
