Honestly, sequels are a gamble. We all know that. But when Open Season 2 dropped back in 2008, it felt like a total curveball for fans of the original. One minute you’ve got Martin Lawrence and Ashton Kutcher riffing as Boog and Elliot, and the next, you’re looking at a DVD cover with different names and a direct-to-video label. It’s weird.
The movie basically follows Elliot, that hyperactive mule deer, as he tries to marry Giselle. But wait. Before the wedding can even happen, the plot pivots. Mr. Weenie—the dachshund who’s obsessed with "buddy bars"—gets snatched by his old owners. Suddenly, the whole forest crew is on a rescue mission.
It’s a classic "wild vs. domestic" showdown.
The Voice Swap That Confused Everyone
Let's address the elephant in the room. Or rather, the bear and the deer. Martin Lawrence and Ashton Kutcher did not come back. Why? Usually, it's money or scheduling. Sony decided to go the direct-to-DVD route to keep costs down, utilizing facilities in India and New Mexico to save a buck.
As a result, they brought in Mike Epps to play Boog and Joel McHale for Elliot.
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McHale brought a different vibe. He’s snarkier. It fits Elliot’s chaotic energy, but if you grew up with Kutcher’s voice, it takes a second for your brain to adjust. Mike Epps does a solid job, but he's not trying to do a Martin Lawrence impression; he's just doing Boog.
Supporting cast stayed mostly the same, though. Jane Krakowski returned as Giselle, and Billy Connolly still voiced the hot-tempered squirrel, McSquizzy. That continuity helped keep the soul of the franchise alive, even if the leads were different.
A New Villain Enters the Yard
Every good sequel needs a villain you love to hate. Enter Fifi. He’s a toy poodle voiced by Crispin Glover. Think about that for a second. The guy from Back to the Future voicing a psychotic, anti-wildlife poodle.
Fifi is the leader of the pampered pets at "Pet Paradiso." He hates everything about the woods. He thinks wild animals are "disgusting" and "primitive." His goal? To "de-program" Mr. Weenie and turn him back into a perfect, obedient lapdog.
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Open Season 2 Movie: The Shift to Direct-to-Video
Critics weren't exactly kind to this one. Most reviews called it "competent" but warned that it was strictly for the kids. It didn't have that Shrek-level double-layered humor that adults crave.
- Animation quality: Surprisingly good. Sony Pictures Imageworks didn't slack just because it wasn't in theaters.
- The Humor: Very slapstick. Lots of rabbit-hurling and sight gags.
- The Rating: It's PG. It has some surprisingly weird moments (like Fifi’s obsession with shock collars), but nothing that would truly scar a toddler.
The movie was actually a huge financial win for Sony's home entertainment division. In its first week of release in January 2009, it snatched the #1 spot on the DVD sales charts, moving over 550,000 units. That's over $11 million in one week.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Plot
People often think this is just a rehash of the first movie's "get back to the wild" theme. It’s actually the opposite. It’s about the wild animals trying to understand why a dog would want to be a pet.
The "Pet Paradiso" sequence is the highlight. Boog tries to go undercover as a sheepdog. McSquizzy pretends to be a chihuahua. It’s ridiculous, but the character designs for the domestic pets—like Roberto the Basset Hound—are actually pretty clever.
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Why It Still Matters in Animation History
This movie proved that a franchise could survive a total lead-actor swap. It paved the way for Open Season 3 and Open Season: Scared Silly. It also showed that the "direct-to-video" label didn't always mean "unwatchable garbage."
If you’re planning a movie night, here is the reality:
If you loved the first one's heart, you might find this one a bit hollow. But if you just want 76 minutes of colorful animals hitting each other and making wisecracks, it hits the spot.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Parents:
- Check the Runtime: At just over an hour and 15 minutes, it’s a perfect "short attention span" movie for rainy afternoons.
- Spot the Voice Cameos: Listen for Diedrich Bader and Fred Stoller—they bring a lot of character to the minor pet roles.
- Skip the Soundtrack Expectations: Unlike the first film which featured Paul Westerberg, the sequel relies more on a traditional score by Ramin Djawadi (yes, the Game of Thrones guy).
- Watch for the Post-Credits: There’s a fun little music video for "Who Let the Dogs Out" by the Baha Men that features the cast.
If you haven't seen it in years, it’s currently floating around on various streaming platforms. Just don't go in expecting a masterpiece. It's a goofy, loud, and weirdly charming sequel that knows exactly what it is.
Check your local streaming listings or digital retailers like Vudu or Amazon if you want to revisit the Pet Paradiso showdown. It’s a low-stakes way to kill an hour and see a poodle lose its mind.