With a plot involving our woodland protagonists, the huntsman, and a werewolf legend, the fourth entry in the Open Season film series is the first for the music scoring team of
Rupert Gregson-Williams and
Dominic Lewis, both of whom have other animated features among their résumés. The bright and whimsical adventure score has a full orchestra at its disposal but often holds a folky demeanor, with a light hand on the whole and touches of accordion, tambourine, harmonica, and handclaps between playful symphonic flourishes. Though most of the soundtrack is instrumental, "Mr. Weenie's Opera" sets canine lyrics to the "Habanera" from
Bizet's Carmen before his lament morphs into the dramatic "Vesti la Giubba" from Pagliacci. ~ Marcy Donelson