“Over the Hedge” (Paramount Pictures)
Another CGI Animated Film, Ho-Hum
“Over the hedge” is another CGI animated film, but after “Ice Age 2” and “The Wild” did we really need another one so soon This film is based on a popular comic strip, or at least that is what I am told. I had never heard of or seen the strip and after the movie I do not have a burning desire to look it up. Kids will of course drag their parents to this movie and the parents will not be bored. There is enough “adult” humor to keep them mildly entertained.
The film starts with a raccoon named RJ (voiced by Bruce Willis) stealing the food supply of a hibernating bear named Vincent (Nick Nolte). Unfortunately the bear wakes up just in time to see his food supply smashed to smithereens as it cascades down a hill. He gives RJ a brief time limit to get his food back.
RJ meets up with a turtle named Verne (Garry Shandling) and an assortment of other woodland creatures. They live on the edge of a hedge, beyond which suburbia reigns. RJ talks them into making a raid on the homes “over the hedge” and stealing lots of food and other items. Of course this plan is dangerous and isn’t foolproof in the least.
The main fun of the film is in meeting the various characters. There is a manic squirrel named Hammy (Steve Carell) and a skunk named Stella (Wanda Sykes). There is also a possum named Ozzie (William Shatner). Each of these characters has a moment where the story is focused on them. They are better as an ensemble of characters rather than when they star individually.
There are also some humans over the hedge who enter the story, such as the realtor named Gladys (Allison Janney) who doesn’t want anything destroying property values. Thomas Haden Church provides the voice of Dwayne, the exterminator Gladys calls to come in and clean up the area.
The movie is rated PG for comic violence. There is nothing here that would frighten children in the least.
“Over the Hedge” is just another movie about animals who are smarter than humans. It is fun and funny but not outstanding in any way. If you have small children you will want to give them a treat by letting them view this film, and while you are doing it you can put your mind in idle mode and tune out.
“Over the Hedge” is more of the same old same old. Not any better and definitely not any worse than all the other animated films you have seen in the past few months.
I scored “Over the Hedge” a suburban 5 out of 10.
