Understated sequel still delivers animal laughs.

See the trailer for "Open Season 2."

See an exclusive 8-minute clip from "Open Season 2."

In this straight-to-DVD sequel to "Open Season," "Open Season 2"  leaves the anti-hunting rhetoric mostly behind and takes on pet ownership.

Elliott the mule deer (now voiced by Joel McHale) is supposed to be marrying Giselle (Jane Krakowski) as the movie opens. But Elliott has an attack of cold feet, conveniently explained by the disappearance of Mr. Weenie the dachshund -- a former pet who has embraced live in the "vild" only to be lured back by his well-meaning owners en route to the Pet Paradiso RV resort.

Elliott, Giselle, and a motley crew of forest animals take off in pursuit of Mr. Weenie, but don't anticipate the venom with which the dogs and cats of the RV park will fight the encroachment of the wild on their now-natural habitat.

This sequel loses something of the star wattage of the voice performers in the original -- Ashton Kutcher and Martin Lawrence voiced Elliott and Boog the bear in the first movie -- but with Krakowski and Billy Connolly returning to their roles, it still manages to entertain and amuse. In part, the entertainment value comes from the richly imagined characters, from a perpetually angry Scottish squirrel to a psychopathic French poodle named Fifi (Crispin Glover, who else?). The depiction of crazily devoted pet owners -- and the subtle way in which they have come to look like their pets -- is also effective.

But in the end this is a buddy film, with Elliott realizing that to survive he'll need the help of his friends -- and that includes his fiancé. What Giselle sees in Elliott is mystifying, between his hysteric tendencies and his unwillingness to commit, but since this is a movie aimed at kids we'll give it a pass. It's a fine family entertainment choice that may have children rethinking their assumptions about the family pet.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this is a funny, occasionally crude animated comedy that pits wild animals against domesticated pets in a race to save a conflicted dachshund. The trappings of domestication - leashes, treats, RVs - are presented as entrapment, at least from the perspective of the "wilds."

But it ultimately delivers a nice message about the devotion between pets and their owners. While it might be helpful to see the original before viewing this, it's not imperative - kids will still be able to follow along with the action.

Families can talk about Mr. Weenie's dilemma. If you have pets, do you think they ever wish they were free? What would be the pluses and minuses of being free for an animal used to living inside? What do you think wild animals might envy about domesticated life?

Studio: Sony Pictures Animation Directed By: Matthew O'Callaghan Cast: Mike Epps Running Time: 86 minutes Release Date: 1/27/2009 Genre: Family and Kids MPAA Rating: PG MPAA Explanation: For mild rude humor

Reviewed by Nancy Davis Kho.

See more about "Open Season 2" at Common Sense Media.