Open Season 2006

The sun rises over the forest, signaling the arrival of spring and a new chapter in the life of Boog (voice of Billy Bob Thornton). The lovable opossum has spent several years in hibernation, and with his return to the world, he sets out to relive the good old days by planning an annual guys’ trip. However, the landscape has changed since the last adventure, as Elliot (voiced by Johnny Flynn) has grown distant from Boog, now that he’s started a family with Giselle and is busy juggling fatherhood of their three rambunctious offspring: Giselita, Giselita Jr., and Elvis. Meanwhile, Boog finds himself feeling left out, struggling to find meaning in his life without a mate or children of his own. His annual guys’ trip becomes a solo affair, with only his plush toy companion Dinkleman for company.

As he wanders through the forest, Boog stumbles upon an unexpected treasure: the Maslova Family Circus, a traveling troupe of performers that have captured the hearts of the local wildlife. Among them is Doug (voiced by Ewen Bremner), a gruff, self-absorbed grizzly bear who’s tired of being relegated to the sidelines and yearns for recognition as the true king of the forest. In a bold move, Doug tricks Boog into switching places with him, promising his Argentine camelid friend Alistair that he’ll return to bring his buddy to the forest. However, Doug has no intention of keeping his word, instead using their swapped identities to enslave the forest animals and assert his dominance.

Back at the circus, Boog discovers the truth about Doug’s scheme and Alistair’s involvement in it. Despite feeling betrayed, Boog shows remarkable forgiveness and empathy towards Alistair, bonding with him over their shared experiences of being abandoned by their respective best friends. As the story unfolds, Boog must navigate this complex web of relationships, confronting his own feelings of loneliness and searching for a new sense of purpose in his life.

As Boog navigates his life within the vibrant circus setting, he finds himself hopelessly enamored with Ursa, a captivating Russian-born grizzly bear endowed with extraordinary agility. Her effortless ability to tread the tightrope, juggle with finesse, and dance with grace leaves Boog utterly enchanted, dubbing her performances as nothing short of “bearvana.” However, his affections are met with disdain by Ursa, who is understandably perturbed by Doug’s (Boog’s initial identity) rude, self-absorbed, and lethargic demeanor before he departed. Initially, Boog struggles to convince Ursa that he is not Doug, earning her scorn and prompting her to dare him to prove his sincerity by scaling the high wire. Seizing the opportunity, Boog accepts the challenge and successfully climbs the wire, only to be surprised when Ursa reveals she had discerned his true identity from the moment he rode the unicycle - a feat beyond Doug’s capabilities.

Despite this revelation, Ursa remains skeptical, and Boog is met with a stern warning: he must atone for an earlier transgression, having attempted to impress her by juggling a dog (an act that left Ursa both startled and amused). As they begin to share stories about their lives and backgrounds, Ursa’s demeanor softens, and she starts to appreciate the genuine nature of Boog’s affections. She is impressed by his kind-heartedness, which sets him apart from other male grizzly bears like Doug, who tend to be aggressive and hostile towards one another. As they continue to bond over their shared experiences and differences, Ursa slowly warms up to Boog, ultimately reciprocating his romantic sentiments.

As the drama unfolds, Mr. Weenie and his motley crew, including the reformed Fifi and newcomer Nate, stumble upon Boog’s plight when they spot him on a TV commercial for the circus. Convinced that the performances are nothing more than a sinister attempt to eliminate their friend, they spring into action, orchestrating a daring rescue mission. After outsmarting a gas station attendant and utilizing Bob and Bobbie’s RV as a getaway vehicle, they finally reach the circus grounds. Meanwhile, Giselle, Giselita, and Gisela discover Doug’s deceit and expose him to the rest of the animal community, prompting Elliot to lead the charge in rescuing Boog before the circus embarks on its journey back to Russia.

As tensions rise, it becomes clear that Boog is torn between his love for Ursa and his desire to reunite with his forest friends. Seeing how happy he is in her presence, Elliot and the gang decide to grant him permission to pursue a life with Ursa. Boog invites her to join him in the forest, and she agrees, but only after realizing that a Russian circus without its star bear is nothing more than a mere shadow of its former self.

As fate would have it, Doug reappears, apologizes for his wrongdoings, and reunites with Alistair. With Ursa’s blessing, Boog and his friends set off on their new life together in the forest, where Ursa becomes an integral part of their community. She finds contentment in her role as Boog’s mate and honorary aunt to Elliot and Giselle’s children. The group’s bond is further strengthened when they embark on a guys’ trip, singing along to Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” as they explore the great outdoors.

In parallel, Mr. Weenie and his companions travel to Devils Tower in search of extraterrestrial life, while the circus begins its long journey back to Russia. The movie concludes with Doug and Alistair sharing a heartwarming slideshow of their adventures around the world as they make their way back home.