All the way to the top ...

Rating: 9/10 (1 January 2007)

Oh My Gosh  this review will never be read but how can anyone who has seen this not write something, somewhere As much rave reviews as this animation has garnered, it will never get the respect and longevity it deserves in a world that goes "Wow! That was incredible  what's next?" Nothing seems to linger these days.
I'm an old codger weaned on Road Runner and Bugs Bunny gold plated animation that fascinated kids but had layers and layers to be peeled away that only maturity could appreciate. They were operatic and adult elements just beneath the slapstick.
So it is with Over The Hedge, with groundbreaking and cutting edge CGI to boot.
For instance, much has been made of its satirical portrayal of suburbia but hiding beneath the obvious is a second review of the human condition in the anthropomorphic depiction of the main characters and then  there are sub-layers there.
This movie is one of those accidents of talent, writers, source, directors and actors; when the sum is more than the tally of its parts. That makes it art, milestone, important and one absolute dilly of a movie.
It makes me sad to know it will fast-food its way through distribution, sales and fade away for whatever is next.
This is a diamond; polished, unflawed (forget the complaints of plot holes and discontinuity, it's a work of fiction  it didn't really happen), pristine and a serendipitous collection of talents and ideas.
WOW!!