"I Am A Crazy, Rabid Squirrel! I Want My Cookies!" --- Hammy The Squirrel (Steve Carell)

Rating: 8/10 (18 December 2006)

"Over the Hedge" (2006)
Directed By: Tim Johnson & Karey Kirkpatrick
Starring: Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Steve Carell, Wanda Sykes, William Shatner, Thomas Haden Church, Nick Nolte, Allison Janney, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, & Avril Lavigne
MPAA Rating: "PG" (for some rude humor and mild comic action)
Are you sick of talking animated animals yet? Ever since "Finding Nemo" was such a huge hit in 2003, talking animals have been a very prolific part in Hollywood cinema. And I am officially tired of them. From "Madagascar" to "Happy Feet", it seems as though Hollywood is being overrun by little animated critters. Don't get me wrong, I love most of these films as individual projects, but I think that we definitely need a break from them as a whole. But, Hollywood obviously has a different opinion than me, as we have yet another: "Over the Hedge". Following with the tradition, it has talking animals, a big-name cast, great animation, and plenty of humor and adventure for the family. It's a clever movie and its satirical look at the over-development of nature is genuine, without coming off as cynical. With a scant eighty-three minute running time, it's pacing is rapid, keeping all of the kids entertained, and not overstaying its welcome. Everyone in the family will enjoy this movie! Even for those tired of talking animals (like me), "Over the Hedge" is one of the must-see animated films this year.
RJ (voiced by Willis) is a sneaky raccoon who has made a huge mistake: trying to steal a huge, violent bear's food. But, he got caughtand now he must replace all of the food before the full moonor RJ will find himself on the menu. Meanwhile, a family of mismatched animals awake from hibernation to find a new neighborhood built in their backyard. RJ decides that this is his perfect chance to get back the food and he thus befriends the animals, led by a turtle named Verne (voiced by Shandling), and agrees to help them gather all the food they will need for next winter. Of course, he plans on them getting the food and then stealing it to give to the bear. But, when the pesky president of the Homeowner's Association, Gladys (Janney), calls an exterminator to wipe out the small animal family and to restore "peace" and "tranquility" to the neighborhood, what started off as a particularly easy task becomes a difficult, deadly battle. Will RJ succeed in his task and get all of the food he needsor will he become a big bear's next meal?
If you live in a nice neighborhood, then you have probably had an encounter with the president of your neighborhood's homeowner's society. She's the woman with the measuring stick out in your lawn or the man who's calling to check up on you if more than four cars are parked in your driveway. She's probably in charge of the neighborhood's Christmas party and probably is very adamant about you having a certain number of shrubs outside of your home. You probably also know someone who has no family and no friends and yet drives around in a large SUVby themselves. You have also probably been seeing an excessive amount of development lately (I know that I have). Neighborhoods are going up like crazy and woods are falling just as quickly. If you are reading this and nodded your head, then you will probably find much of the humor and satire in "Over the Hedge" to be very clever and very effective. This movie skewers much of the excessiveness that we experience everyday. "Over the Hedge" will never become a long-lasting classic, because its humor is set for today. Fifteen years ago, this movie would not have worked and the same could probably be said for fifteen years in the future. But, it works beautifully now.
On the downside, "Over the Hedge" suffered from an ample amount of predictability. If you didn't know the bear was going to wake up at the slightest sound despite sleeping through loud crashes and bangs, then you must have never seen an episode of "Looney Tunes". I could see almost every moment coming from the very beginning. Little kids probably won't notice, but parents may find themselves becoming a little too bored. Overall, "Over the Hedge" is a clever comedy that kept me entertained, despite the almost constant predictability. Its intelligent social satire had me practically rolling on the floor laughing. Parents and kids, alike will find it to be one of the best animated films of the year. Kids will love the physical humor and obvious child-directed jokes and parents will love the fact that it is an intelligent movie that doesn't dumb everything down for younger audiences. "Over the Hedge" manages to balance everything out flawlessly. This is a must-see movie of the year.
Final Thought: It's social satire and childlike fun more than make up for its predictable plot.
Overall Rating: 8/10 (A-)