‘Furry Vengeance’ just one big mess

It would be so easy just to dismiss “Furry Vengeance” as the cinematic swill it is, considering the horrible acting, lack of direction and writing that’s about as intelligent as scribbles on a bathroom wall.

So easy.

Instead, here are some positives from this movie about a father who transplants his family from the urban jungle of Chicago to a woodland area so he can oversee the construction of a subdivision being built on an animal reserve (the comedy is supposed to result from the animals joining forces to stop the work):

Brendan Fraser, who plays the work-centered father, no longer has to carry the shame of starring in “Dudley Do-Right” and “George of the Jungle.” “Furry Vengeance” has enough stink to obliterate the bad memories from those two turkeys.

Then there’s Brooke Shields. Her portrayal of the disbelieving wife is bland – but compared to the rest of the cast, she gives an award-worthy performance.

Director Roger Kumble’s past credits include episodes of the embarrassingly bad “Kath & Kim” TV show and both of the awful “Cruel Intentions” movies. He hits a new low with this film because the direction isn’t over-the-top enough to be broad comedy or smart enough to be original.

He gets no help from the bad special effects. The woodland creatures aren’t even as well-done as the lovable critters you see in those car-insurance commercials on TV.

That writers Josh Gilbert and Michael Carnes got work after penning “Mr. Woodcock” is shocking. They’ve not improved; “Furry Vengeance’ is a one-joke story (and that’s being generous) with all the appeal of a skunk hug.

Their failing starts with the idea that Fraser’s character should be the brunt of all of the animal wrath. He’s really a compassionate person and so all of this beast abuse is misdirected, leaving the animals looking like the bad guys.

“Furry Vengeance” is the film industry’s answer to road kill – a bloody mess that needs to be removed as quickly as possible.