Over the Hedge is Over the Top Fun!
What makes “Over The Hedge” not just a simple tale is that the folks at DreamWorks Animation have made a conscience choice to take this film over the top and it works.
There’s big-name voice talent, big environmental messages and definitely big laughs.
Based on the popular comic strip by Michael Fry and T. Lewis, the movie’s vivid characterizations are brought to incredible life by Bruce Willis as the raccoon who befriends a family of porcupines (Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy), a pair of possums William Shatner and Avril Lavigne), a skunk (hilariously voiced by Wanda Sykes), turtle (Garry Shandling) and hyper-active squirrel (Steve Carell).
I had to pinch myself back to reality a few times during the 83 minute tale. It was easy to become engrossed in the story, viewing the animals as characters in the midst of life-changing events. I actually started to shed a tear at the thought that one of the possums wasn’t actually “playing dead.”
When RJ the raccoon (Willis) pilfers food from a hibernating bear (Nick Nolte), then subsequently loses the food, he has to find a way to replace it. He discovers a group of animals under the leadership of a logical turtle (Shandling), but the smooth talking RJ soon has the group eager explore what’s over the hedge where junk food and over caffeinated beverages await.
It’s the excess of suburbia that the group tumbles into that will have you stashing the popcorn tub under your seat, putting down the gallon of diet soda, and tucking Twizzlers in your purse.
The portrayal of humans in the film is not a pretty sight. We’re overly excessive. We drive overly big cars, have overly big yards, and have overly large pizzas delivered to our door whenever we want.
The movie’s message: “They live to eat and we eat to live. They take what they need and use what they take. We take what we want…and then want more. In fact, the oddest creatures on Earth may very well be us.”
In one of the funniest lines in the film, the group stumbles upon an SUV.
Penny the Porcupine: It’s so big!
Lew the Porcupine: How many humans fit in there?
RJ: Usually…one.
It’s that kind of navel gazing that makes “Over The Hedge” more than standard kid’s fare. While there’s occasional cartoon slapstick, bodily function jokes and whiz bangs that animated movies are known for, the movie still has a “Shrek”-like level of sophistication.
In fact, even if there’s no one from the under-10 set willing to commit to seeing “Over The Hedge,” grab your snacks and see the movie yourself. On second thought, you may want to leave the snacks behind.
