Off-screen, Martin Lawrence and Ashton Kutcher seem and look like a comedic odd couple, so it's no surprise they play animated buddies so convincingly. Lawrence is Boog, a domesticated brown bear that lives in a park ranger's (Debra Messing) garage, acting more dog than grizzly. When he unties a captured, one-antlered buck named Elliot (Kutcher) from the town hunting nutso's (Gary Sinise) truck, things start to go really wrong. Elliot gets Boog banished from town and sent to the woods, where the hunter tries to, well, hunt them down. Watching a bear that carries around his own teddy bear and his goofy deer sidekick travel in the backwoods is decidedly silly, but also a lot of fun. Rated PG for some rude humor, mild action and brief language

What's in It for the Kids: Let's face it, kids will laugh at just about anything, but there are a couple of scenes that will have the kids spitting out their popcorn in howls. One is Boog and Elliot's junk-food bingefest at the local convenience store, filled with puddles of nacho cheese, gooey chocolate and frozen slurpee juice, and the other is the climactic revenge of the animals, when the main duo lead a gang of skunks, rabbits, squirrels and deer on a mission to drive out the hunters. In lieu of real weapons, the animals use all sorts of ingenious tricks. Two words: skunk bomb.

What's in It for You: Parents with adolescents will keenly understand Boog's need for independence but desire for the comforts of home. All adults -- parents or not -- will get some laughs at Billy Connolly's McSquizzy, the leader of a band of Scottish squirrels that sound like soccer hooligans ("Oy!") ready to nail the opposing fans with sharp acorns. And Baby Boomers should recognize 'Mary Tyler Moore' regular Georgia Engel, who as always, masters the part of a ditzy, overly chatty wife.

Redeeming Social Value: Like any movie where hunted or put-upon animals strike back at rifled, indifferent humans, 'Open Season' wants us to appreciate nature and our woodland friends more than most of us do. But even if your family enjoys the countdown to hunting season each fall, don't fear, this is just a cute little buddy comedy about finding a place to belong; there's no heavy-handed message at heart.

If You Like 'Open Season,' We Recommend:

'The Ant Bully'
'A Bug's Life'
'Ice Age'
'Madagascar'
'Over the Hedge'

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