Over the Hedge Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)May 15th, 2006
OVER THE HEDGE
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2006 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ***
Looking in the window at a family of humans saying grace before dinner, a bunch of the cute critters in OVER THE HEDGE decide they know what is going on. The movie's central character, an adorable huckster of a raccoon named RJ (voiced by Bruce Willis) explains, "That is the altar where they worship the food."
This latest DreamWorks production features realistic looking CGI for the animals but purposely makes the humans appear more like animated department store mannequins. It's a blend that serves the comedy and the story well. As co-directed by Tim Johnson, the director of ANTZ, and Karey Kirkpatrick, the writer of CHICKEN RUN, the movie is a delightful rollercoaster of laughs. Constantly frantic and funny, the characters rarely take time to catch their breaths. Although there are only a few big laughs, with the extremely well done and surprising ending having the best of them, the movie provides more than enough chuckles to recommend it to all ages, even those without kids in tow. Our packed audience of all ages demonstrated that the film does play well to young and old alike. It wasn't just the little ones who were giggling, which happens so often these days with the many subpar family films.
The plot involves a bunch of sweet little animals from skunks to squirrels, who fall under RJ's spell. They used to be led by the cautious and steady Verne (voiced by Garry Shandling), a tortoise who keeps losing his shell. But, when RJ shows up in their neck of the woods promising treats ranging from corn chips to donuts, the animals abandon Verne and his nutritious and fiber-filled diet of bark, bark and more bark. Steve Carell (THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN) plays Hammy, a scene stealer of a little squirrel who is like parents' worst nightmare of a kid with a massive sugar overload. To say Hammy bounces off walls would be a major understatement.
The story has RJ manipulating the animals to do his dirty work. After being caught stealing and losing the junk food horde of a big bear (voiced gruffly by Nick Nolte), RJ uses his new animal friends to gather replacement supplies. RJ, however, tricks them into thinking that their battle of wits with the suburban dwellers is in order to stock up on snack food for the animals themselves and not to pay off his debt. Of course, there will be a message in the end, but the film is never preachy and is a million miles away from being saccharine. It's always sweet, but it's naturally sweet.
OVER THE HEDGE is one of those films that will leave you with a smile on your face and a reflection that you did indeed have a rollicking good time.
OVER THE HEDGE runs a fast 1:26. It is rated PG for "some rude humor and mild comic action" and would be acceptable for all ages.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, May 19, 2006. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
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