It’s surprising to imagine Martin Lawrence has never done an animated film before. Most of the talking animal cartoons are full of hip, urban characters who appear in one scene and sell millions of stuffed toys. But Open Season is his first and he’s got the lead role, a bear named Boog who gets thrust from his comfortable domestic home with a park ranger into the wild with a trouble-making deer.
“The fact they could put my voice into a big bear and hopefully make him likeable and loveable and energetic and fun, that was interesting for me to see that come along and I was excited about doing the project,” said Lawrence.
It was easy since it was his own voice they were looking for. “I just kind of threw the voice out there and they said they liked it. ‘You’re right there. You don’t need to do much more than that.’ So I didn’t have to over exaggerate him or under exaggerate him. I just had to keep him right there. The great thing was they were there to let me know if I was on point or not.”
Even when Boog lets out a big roar, Lawrence just let loose. “I just tried it on the spot. Whether they used it or not I’m not sure, but it was cool.”
Like any cartoon, even South Park, Open Season has a moral. “The message is heart, courage, finding friendship. Being out of your element and learning how to adapt to a situation that are unfamiliar to you. Just a movie about a lot of heart and tenderness.”
Lawrence has already made great inroads for African-American actors through his standup, television and film work. Breaking into animation just provides another simple example for the community. “It’s another black man working. It’s another brother working. I represented I was employed!”
The cartoons that influenced Lawrence’s childhood were those on the small screen. “The Batmans and Supermans and Underdog. And Flinstones. Flinstones was like my favorite. I used to love Flinstones. I used to tell people anyone who can stop a car with their feet, how can you not be impressed with that?”
Now that he is a father, it’s all Disney Channel all the time. “We watch Raven and Zach and Cody’s Sweet Life, Cheetah Girls, Hannah Montana. I watch all that stuff. I just sit there and go ‘Wow, I’m getting old.’ We are looking to do some other things together. I think Disney is hot. They have a hot thing over there. All the programming for the kids and the young talent promotes everybody that’s on a show over there sings. So I think they got a hot thing going.”
Back on the adult side of his humor, Lawrence leaves the door open for another Bad Boys movie. “Jerry and Michael, I know Michael just finished doing Transformers or he’s finshing up. And Jerry is doing anything all over. Hey, they know where to find me if they are ready and If it calls for another, I’m there. Will knows where I’m at.”
Going back on the stand-up stage, however, may take a while. “I always think of stand up. But after Runteldat you can’t just follow Runteldat with just anything. So, if I’ve got something to say and it’s funny and the subject matter there and it’s interesting then I’m right there. I’m all over it. But, if I don’t have anything to say I’m going to let time go until there is time.”
Even a third Big Momma’s House could be too difficult to lure Lawrence back. “Whooo. Let’s just say we’d have to have a happy, happy, happy talk when we talk about three, because that’s a lot of work. To get in that fat suit and to wear that fat suit and wear that fat face day in and day out and somebody slapping glue on your face and behind your ear, that is the hardest thing to do. I never say never. I mean, hopefully we have good conversations if we talk about a three, but I’m not running down anybody’s door to do it.”
See, or at least hear, Martin Lawrence in Open Season this Friday.
