REVIEWS

Open Season 3D Review

by Alex Billington
September 29, 2006

• US Release Date: September 29, 2006
• Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family
• MPAA: Rated PG (for some rude humor, mild action and brief language)
• Running Time: 99 minutes
• Directed by: Jill Culton
• on IMDb
•    7.5/10

Open Season is an animated adventure (presented entirely in 3D IMAX where available) following the story of a pet Grizzly bear named Boog (Martin Lawrence) and his new moronic deer friend Elliot (Ashton Kutcher). Boog lives in the comfort of a park ranger's garage with his own little bed, cute teddy bear, and television. Elliot first arrives seemingly dead, tied to the truck of the town's grungiest and meanest hunters, Shaw (Gary Sinise). However after Boog discovers he's still alive and lets him loose, Elliot befriends Boog and later coaxes him to playfully rampage through a convenience store. Boog's worst fears are realized when his caretaker learns of Boog's and Elliot's hijinks and sets Boog free in the wilderness just days before the start of open hunting season. This starts Boog's journey back to the town in which he learns a lot about himself and encounters and befriends many other wild animals along the way.

Open Season, produced by Sony Pictures Animation, has as much passion put into it as a Pixar movie. The story is rather brief, moving swiftly through short scenes and ending at about 90 minutes. It's still a heartwarming story about the cute and lovable pet bear figuring out how to live his life in his natural surroundings. For a children's movie, Open Season is amazingly captivating. The quickly progressing story will make sure that attention is never lost, and very childish cartoon-like humor is often used. Open Season really does deliver a story full of heart and happiness despite a few boring or clichéd moments.

Although I don't usually like 3D, I'll admit that Open Season in 3D is an enjoyable experience. Maybe I got used to the 3D after the first 20 minutes, or maybe it's that the animation style and look allows for 3D to be easily applied without being as cheesy as in Superman Returns. Open Season's animation is top notch, another great success for Sony Pictures Animation studios in addition to Monster House released earlier this year. The fur on Boog looks so soft and impeccably realistic that everyone will at least once try to reach out and touch it. One of the most distressing aspects was that most of the backgrounds were all entirely unanimated - just flat drawings.

Last Word:
Tack up another success for the young Sony Pictures Animation studio, the second best animation studio next to Pixar. In addition to Monster House, Open Season is one of the better animated films to be released in a world full of clichéd and unoriginal animated films being announced all too often. It has a lovable and passionate lead character and excellent animation and 3D elements. Open Season is another entertaining animated film from this year that children and adults will both enjoy equally.

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