Open Season

Open Season came out this weekend, as the latest of an overlong string of computer animated films. Thus, it would usually deserve no mention from me, but for two things:

1) It's the debut picture for Sony Imageworks, which looks like a worthy competitor to DreamWorks and Blue Sky both creatively, talent-wise, and commercially. But is it too late for such a big CG feature company to join the melee?

2) All of its directors are masters of their craft: Anthony Stacchi has worked on the special effects for Hook and The Rocketeer; Jill Culton from Pixar, who worked on Toy Story and Monsters Inc.; and Roger Allers, one of the men behind every feature from Disney's second renaissance. He worked on story for Oliver & Company, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and headed the department for Beauty and the Beast. Oh, and he directed The Lion King with Rob Minkoff. Pretty impressive, eh?

So, am I going to see it? Maybe. We'll see. It does look refreshingly more "traditional" than previous CG films, and in an interview, Allers said that the characters go off-model quite frequently. And Culton has said the film has heart. However, despite the super star talent behind it, it hasn't really gotten strong reviews (as of today), and there are waaay too many animated films dependent on "rude humor" out there. Pixar! Aardman! Where are yooooouuuu!!!???