Open Season (DVD)

Now this one really is funny! Boog (Martin Lawrence) is a grizzly bear brought up in captivity. When eventually turned loose in the wilds, he and mule deer Elliot (Ashton Kutcher), who also has a taste for civilisation, form a kind of Laurel and Hardy team…or maybe Shrek and Donkey would be more appropriate here. When a three-day open hunting season opens: together with the other animals in the forest (and "Mr Weenie," a disgruntled pet Dachshund), they realise that their best means of survival is to unite and become the aggressors — rather than the hunted! The whole thing takes a little time to really get into gear; but once it's rolling, the action becomes hilarious!

The story has been deliberately kept simple so that it can quite easily be followed by kids of all ages — including me!

The animation is an effective updated 21st century blend of George Pal's Puppetoons, and "Postman Pat". It's really good, but maybe different from the ordinary (whatever that may be.)

Billy Connolly steals the show as the voice of McSquizzy — the belligerent leader of a band of military-minded grey pine-squirrels.