Over the Hedge
OVER THE HEDGE (2006) 2 1/2 stars out of 4. Featuring the voices of Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Steve Carell, Wanda Sykes, William Shatner, Nick Nolte, Thomas Haden Church, Allison Janney, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara and Arvil Lavigne. Screenplay by Len Blum and Lorne Cameron & David Hoselton and Karey Kirkpatrick. Directed by Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick. Rated PG. Running time: 96 mins.
Over the Hedge is an undemanding, kid-friendly movie about loyalty, cooperation and family.
The movie tells the story of a group of woodland creatures who awake in the spring to discover their forest has been encroached upon by man. A giant hedge has been erected separating suburbia from the wild. The innocent creatures are in awe, mystified and frightened by this new thing.
It is up to RJ, an opportunistic raccoon, to explain to the others the advantages of 'the good lifeĀ awaiting them on the other side of the hedge. Basically, he explains, humans are gluttonous, uber-consumers who throw away enough food to allow RJ's new buddies, led by Verne the turtle, to store away more than enough food for the next winter.
What the others don't know is RJ's secret agenda. It seems he stole, and lost, the food supply of a hibernating bear. He has a week to replenish everything or become bear food himself.
RJ convinces the others to take a chance and sneak into the human's domain to forage and, unknowingly, collect the goods he needs to pacify the soon-to-be-awakened bear.
The movie is a delightful experience, especially for youngsters. Those attending an advance screening were screaming and laughing, really enjoying themselves. I didn't hear much from the adults in attendance.
The movie's voice talents are wonderfully light and adept. Bruce Willis is sly and shrewd as the conniving RJ. Garry Shandling is overly cautious and nervous as Verne, and Steve Carell is hysterical as Hammy, the nutty squirrel.
The cast is abetted by Wanda Sykes as Stella, the skunk; William Shatner as the overly dramatic possum, Ozzie; Nick Nolte as the very grouchy and hungry bear, Vincent; and Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara as the married-with-kids porcupines, Lou and Penny.
The screenplay is credited to four writers, which may explain why even at a rapid 96 minutes, the movie seems just to lurch from one situation to another.
None of that matters to the kids, who will eat this film up. Talking animals are an animation staple, and Over the Hedge continues this tradition.
Bob Bloom is the film critic and DVD reviewer at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, Ind. He can be reached by e-mail at bbloom@journalandcourier.com or at serialhero48@yahoo.com. Bloom's reviews also can be found at the Journal and Courier Web site: www.jconline.com
Other reviews by Bloom can be found at the Rottentomatoes Web site: www.rottentomatoes.com.
