“Furry Vengeance” Gives Lesson: Don’t Mess with Animals By Art Byrd

“Furry Vengeance” is exactly what the title implies. Just think -- if forest animals were out to get you when their forest home is threatened, how would they do it? This film shows how, and it is very funny.

The story centers on Dan, played by Brendan Fraser, a development executive whose company is building houses near the forest in the Northwest. At first, the animals were okay with a few houses. Now Lyman, the CEO of Dan’s company, played by the always funny Ken Jeong (“The Hangover,” “Community”) wants to clear out the whole forest for more houses.

In one cute scene, the Raccoon, the leader of the forest animals, sneaks on an airplane parked on the tarmac – via a food basket – to spy on Dan’s meeting with Lyman. The Raccoon overhears Lyman’s plan for the forest.  

Shortly after, the Raccoon assembles the animals to take action to defend their forest home.

I am glad that the animals didn’t talk or have subtitles. They communicated by clouds with video above their heads. When Dan’s face comes up in a cloud, you could feel he was in trouble.

The things that happen to Dan are very funny and very over the top. It is needed in a film like this, because “Furry Vengeance” is like a cartoon with real people. The special effects with the animals were very good, as I couldn’t tell the real animals from the fake.

Poor Dan. No one believes that the animals are targeting him. In a great casting move, Brooke Shields plays Tammy, Dan’s wife, who has a hard time believing him. Her deadpan expressions are priceless.

The person who keeps the film interesting and entertaining is Fraser, who has no problem in having the audience laugh at him. His bug-eyes make the things that happen to him even funnier.

Is “Furry Vengeance,” the funny movie of the year? Probably not. The film is kid friendly and funny enough to entertain the adult with them. As I was in theater watching the film, one kid was laughing hard out-loud. He was having the best time. The coolest thing was that the adult with him didn’t try to quiet him or shush him. They let him laugh and laughed with him -- and so did I -- because the film is funny. 

edited by Michele Ristich Gatts