Review: Furry Vengeance

There’s a scene in Furry Vengeance where a character, confused at what someone means by the word “Indian”, says something along the lines of “Oh, the Gandhi-type and not the teepee ones!” Massive scoffing amongst the viewers in the theatre ensued, and someone even yelled at the screen “Oh, come on!” For a movie obviously aimed towards a young audience, this line is completely inappropriate. Sadly, that was not the worst of it as the rest of the film is a senseless venture of celluloid pain.

Dan Sanders (Brendan Fraser) works for a “green” real estate developer. He’s moved his wife, Tammy (Brooke Shields), and teenage son Tyler (Matt Prokop), from Chicago to the wilderness of Oregon so he can oversee a small development project of a dozen or so homes. When his boss (played by the wacky Ken Jeong) informs him of plans to build an entire subdivision complete with its own strip mall, Dan agrees to stay on the project against his family’s protests, and his own gut feeling that what he is doing is wrong.

The creatures in the woods have been watching Dan though, and know about the new plan. Led by a raccoon, they team up and fight back against the development, going straight for Dan. One day it’s the sprinkler system soaking him as he leaves his house; then a bird keeps him up all night; and not once, but twice, he is locked in his car with a bunch of skunks and gets sprayed. The gags just keep on coming: all the scenerios use the same formula and end with Fraser making a dumb face. I can see the writers’ (who also wrote the 2007 Billy Bob Thorton mess Mr. Woodcock) copying and pasting scenes over and over, tweaking them to a different animal, and adding filler around them.

Fraser, who I usually don’t mind in comedies, gives a terrible Razzie-worthy performance here. If he’s trying to sabotage his career, well, it’s a job well done. I do see what he was attempting with the slapstick routine, but it’s not his style and he comes across as a bloated idiot. The entire cast, actually, should be nominated for a Razzie, except for Shields who somehow holds her head high and delivers a fine performance with what she’s given to work with.

As I mentioned, this is a kids movie, and there is a decent message underneath the stupidity (save the environment or it will fight back). But I need to question the purpose of silly, annoying, animated animals that would make the most loving PETA member want to run them over? It kind of defeats the purpose of the message. And while your kids will probably laugh and enjoy Furry Vengeance, make sure you’re prepared to answer about that Indian line when it’s over.

* out of 5 stars

Rated G
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Brooke Shields
Directed by:  Roger Kumble
Official Site IMDb

brian.mckechnie@citynews.rogers.com

ALSO OPENING THIS WEEK: Gunless, A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010), The Perfect Game, Passenger Side

Top image: A scene from Furry Vengeance. Courtesy E1 Entertainment.