Over the Hedge: Movie Review, DVD Review (2006)
9/26/2007 Posted by Admin
Stealing the show (Originally published 2006)
Directed by Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick, written by Len Blum, Lorne Cameron, David Hoselton and Kirkpatrick, 87 minutes, rated PG.
For the most part, the scrappy new computer-animated movie from DreamWorks, “Over the Hedge,” gets it right.
Unlike too many recent computer-animated movies, from the studio's own mediocre "Madagascar" to Disney’s more recent disappointment, “The Wild,” it isn't so distracted by the intricacies of its animation that it forgoes what matters--an entertaining story filled with cute, memorable characters.
Here is a movie aided enormously by the excellence of its voice talent, which gives “Hedge” the infectious personality it might have lacked without them in it. The cast is loose, funny and recognizable, selling their punchy lines in ways that help the film live up to its title. This is particularly true when the movie hits its stride at its midpoint, when anarchy and lunacy send it over the moon--never mind the hedge--and not tripping over its own roots.
As directed by Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick from Michael Fry and T Lewis’ comic strip, “Hedge” follows the wily raccoon RJ (Bruce Willis), who begins the movie on what for him is a bum note. Just as he's trying to steal a hibernating bear’s stash of junk food, the bear (Nick Nolte) awakens, calamity ensues, and the food is destroyed when it smashes down a hill. For RJ, his destiny comes down to this--either find a way to return the bear's food within a week or the bear will turn him into road kill.
Returning to the woods, RJ is confronted by an enormous hedge that now separates the forest from a new subdivision. Looking at it, he comes up with a scheme that is far from honest, but which might just save his life if he can pull it off.
Rallying the other critters in the forest--Verne the turtle (Garry Shandling), Penny and Lou Porcupine (Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy), Stella the skunk (Wanda Sykes), Hammy the squirrel (Steve Carell), and Ozzie the opossum (William Shatner)--RJ uses their concerns about suburban sprawl to his benefit. He convinces them that beyond this new, giant hedge rests a bounty beyond reason, more snack food than any of them could fathom. If they band together, they can rob the humans who are robbing them of their land and eat like kings in the process.
Naturally, it won't be that easy, particularly with RJ’s story collapsing, and the crazed Verminator (Thomas Haden Church) and cruel homeowner Gladys (Allison Janney) on their case.
As the movie unfolds, so does the broad comedy. And yet as the themes reveal themselves--it isn't right to cheat your friends, as RJ is doing, and there are dire consequences if you do so--the messages don't feel as if they were delivered via the business end of a hammer. “Over the Hedge” shrewdly keeps the schmaltz out of the story, which is just one reason among many that this likable film comes recommended.
Grade: B
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Directed by Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick, written by Len Blum, Lorne Cameron, David Hoselton and Kirkpatrick, 87 minutes, rated PG.
For the most part, the scrappy new computer-animated movie from DreamWorks, “Over the Hedge,” gets it right.
Unlike too many recent computer-animated movies, from the studio's own mediocre "Madagascar" to Disney’s more recent disappointment, “The Wild,” it isn't so distracted by the intricacies of its animation that it forgoes what matters--an entertaining story filled with cute, memorable characters.
Here is a movie aided enormously by the excellence of its voice talent, which gives “Hedge” the infectious personality it might have lacked without them in it. The cast is loose, funny and recognizable, selling their punchy lines in ways that help the film live up to its title. This is particularly true when the movie hits its stride at its midpoint, when anarchy and lunacy send it over the moon--never mind the hedge--and not tripping over its own roots.
As directed by Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick from Michael Fry and T Lewis’ comic strip, “Hedge” follows the wily raccoon RJ (Bruce Willis), who begins the movie on what for him is a bum note. Just as he's trying to steal a hibernating bear’s stash of junk food, the bear (Nick Nolte) awakens, calamity ensues, and the food is destroyed when it smashes down a hill. For RJ, his destiny comes down to this--either find a way to return the bear's food within a week or the bear will turn him into road kill.
Returning to the woods, RJ is confronted by an enormous hedge that now separates the forest from a new subdivision. Looking at it, he comes up with a scheme that is far from honest, but which might just save his life if he can pull it off.
Rallying the other critters in the forest--Verne the turtle (Garry Shandling), Penny and Lou Porcupine (Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy), Stella the skunk (Wanda Sykes), Hammy the squirrel (Steve Carell), and Ozzie the opossum (William Shatner)--RJ uses their concerns about suburban sprawl to his benefit. He convinces them that beyond this new, giant hedge rests a bounty beyond reason, more snack food than any of them could fathom. If they band together, they can rob the humans who are robbing them of their land and eat like kings in the process.
Naturally, it won't be that easy, particularly with RJ’s story collapsing, and the crazed Verminator (Thomas Haden Church) and cruel homeowner Gladys (Allison Janney) on their case.
As the movie unfolds, so does the broad comedy. And yet as the themes reveal themselves--it isn't right to cheat your friends, as RJ is doing, and there are dire consequences if you do so--the messages don't feel as if they were delivered via the business end of a hammer. “Over the Hedge” shrewdly keeps the schmaltz out of the story, which is just one reason among many that this likable film comes recommended.
Grade: B
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