Open Season: Scared Silly Blu-ray Review

"Open Season: Scared Silly" delivers a robust animation presentation on Blu-ray, reflecting the high standards typically associated with large studio productions. The 1080p transfer is vivid and detailed, capturing the series' signature look admirably. Close-ups reveal impressive tactile detail, especially in the depiction of animal fur, such as the individually defined strands on character close-ups. Similarly, clothing textures, like Mr. Weenie's blue sweater, are rendered with striking clarity. Environmental elements, including tree trunks, rocks, and foliage, display commendable detail and texture, enhancing the animation's immersive quality.

Colors are vibrant and well-balanced with primary hues offering a bold and dynamic presence. This vividly colorful 1.78:1 transfer ensures that the viewer is engaged through its vibrant palette, although it does somewhat lack the nuanced diversity present in top-tier productions. Black levels in darker scenes hold up well without compromising the overall image quality. Fine details, such as Shaw's face with its pinpoint beard stubbles, and animated fabric textures contribute significantly to the visual appeal.

The video quality remains consistent with no discernible issues like banding or aliasing, ensuring a smooth viewing experience from start to finish. While background elements may occasionally lack intricate definition, this appears to be a deliberate choice prioritizing foreground detail to enhance viewer focus. This release of "Open Season: Scared Silly" on Blu-ray is certain to meet the expectations of fans of the series, thanks to its engaging and visually appealing presentation.

The audio presentation of "Open Season: Scared Silly" on Blu-ray features a robust DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack that excels in delivering an immersive and engaging audio experience. This track effectively utilizes the entire soundstage, with sounds dynamically maneuvering between speakers with precision, creating an enveloping listening environment. Key action sequences, such as a pickup truck zipping across the listening area or characters running around from one speaker to another, are recreated with exceptional clarity and kinetic energy. Notably, environmental effects like thunderstorms are reproduced with wide dispersal and immersive impact, adding to the atmospheric tension of the scenes.

Dialogue is perfectly prioritized and naturally centered, ensuring crystal-clear voice reproduction that highlights the comedic timing and accentuations of diverse characters, such as a particularly amusing Scottish squirrel. The clarity in voice acting is pivotal, as it allows the fast-paced jokes to land effectively. The sound mix also features well-balanced integration of sound effects, dialogue, and musical scores, providing a sense of dimension. The-cartoon-like musical score is wide and clear, and when combined with specific sound effects such as creaking tree branches or sudden fright gags from the animals, it enhances the narrative's dynamics without any issues of overlapping sounds or level inconsistencies. Overall, it is a clean, vibrant audio mix that enhances the film's viewing experience for both kids and adults.

The Blu-ray release of "Open Season: Scared Silly" includes a variety of bonus content that will appeal to both casual viewers and animation enthusiasts. Director David Feiss and Writer Carlos Kotkin provide an insightful audio commentary that dives into the technical details of the animation process, character recreation, and the voice cast. The inclusion of bloopers, outtakes, and several featurettes offers a deeper look into the making of the film and its characters, including an amusing segment with Mr. Weenie discussing how he gets into character. Additionally, viewers can enjoy a rapid recap of the series and a detailed profile of David Feiss, which explores his career in animation.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Insightful discussion by Director David Feiss and Writer Carlos Kotkin.
• Bloopers and Outtakes: Pre-manufactured funny moments from the shoot.
• Stepping Into the Spotlight: Mr. Weenie's Process: The Dachshund discusses character preparation.
• Scaredy Pants: The Fears of Open Season: Scared Silly: Overview of each character's personal fears.
• Open Season Super Speedy Recap: Rapid run-through of the series' story and highlights.
• Director Profile: David Feiss: Insight into Feiss's career in animation.
• Previews: Additional Sony titles.

"Open Season: Scared Silly," the latest installment in the Open Season franchise, continues to deliver entertaining and whimsical content suitable for young audiences. The film follows the familiar characters—Boog, the domesticated bear, and Elliot, the rambunctious deer—on a new adventure filled with humorous and spooky elements. It all begins with Elliot sharing a campfire tale about the fearsome Wailing Wampus Werewolf, which terrifies the typically timid Boog. Elliot believes the best way to help Boog overcome his fears is by confronting them head-on, leading to a series of slapstick escapades further complicated by Shaw, a zealous hunter eager to track down the mythical creature.

Despite its relatively benign and straightforward storyline, "Open Season: Scared Silly" occasionally struggles to sustain its 85-minute runtime. The narrative has moments of dragging and relies on repetitive gags that may not always hit the mark for older viewers. However, it retains enough charm and humor to keep children engaged. Furthermore, the new voice cast does an admirable job capturing the essence of the original characters, ensuring the continuity of the franchise's spirit.

From a technical perspective, the animation remains consistent with previous entries, offering exaggerated character designs and visually appealing sequences. Though not groundbreaking, the film maintains its polished appearance typical of Sony's animated projects. For families seeking age-appropriate Halloween-themed entertainment, "Open Season: Scared Silly" proves a dependable choice. Its numerous visual gags and fast-paced humor cater primarily to a younger audience, providing light-hearted fun without venturing into genuinely frightening territory. This Blu-ray release from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment ensures a high-quality viewing experience, making it a solid addition to any family's collection for seasonal viewing.

"Open Season: Scared Silly" marks another enjoyable entry in the beloved animated franchise, albeit not as strong as its predecessors. The film manages to capture a blend of enthusiasm and woodland charm while weaving in some Halloween-themed humor. While the storyline may seem a bit stretched, and the franchise's novelty has slightly worn off since its 2006 debut, the film still carries enough playful energy and adorable moments to entertain family audiences.

Sony’s Blu-ray release of "Open Season: Scared Silly" impresses with its vibrant, colorful video quality and high-fidelity audio performance. The visual presentation is detailed, demonstrating clarity in animation, and the sound design supports the comedic and adventurous elements of the film effectively. Additionally, the disc includes a rich assortment of supplementary content, such as a filmmaker's commentary, which enhances the viewing experience by providing insights into the production process.

In conclusion, "Open Season: Scared Silly" is a fun yet slightly overdone addition to the franchise. It may not reach the heights of its earlier films but is nonetheless engaging enough for a family movie night, especially around Halloween. The solid A/V presentation on Blu-ray and the entertaining extras make it a worthwhile purchase for fans of the series.