Over the Hedge (2006)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Directors:

Tim Johnson
Karey Kirkpatrick

Writers:

Len Blum (screenplay) and
Lorne Cameron (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

19 May 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family

Tagline:

Nuts!

Plot:

A scheming raccoon fools a mismatched family of forest creatures into helping him repay a debt of food, by invading the new suburban sprawl that popped up while they were hibernating...and learns a lesson about family himself.

Plot Keywords:

Food | Raccoon | Forest | Hibernation | Exterminator

Awards:

5 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Bruce Willis	...	RJ (voice)
Garry Shandling	...	Verne (voice)
Steve Carell	...	Hammy (voice)
Wanda Sykes	...	Stella (voice)
William Shatner	...	Ozzie (voice)
Nick Nolte	...	Vincent (voice)
Thomas Haden Church	...	Dwayne (voice)
Allison Janney	...	Gladys (voice)
Eugene Levy	...	Lou (voice)
Catherine O'Hara	...	Penny (voice)
Avril Lavigne	...	Heather (voice)
Omid Djalili	...	Tiger (voice)
Sami Kirkpatrick	...	Bucky (voice)
Shane Baumel	...	Spike (voice)
Madison Davenport	...	Quillo (voice)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some rude humor and mild comic action.

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Singapore:G | Philippines:G | Malaysia:U | UK:U | Ireland:G | USA:PG (certificate #42591) | Germany:o.Al. | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Brazil:Livre | Finland:K-7 | Portugal:M/4 | France:U | Argentina:Atp | Hong Kong:I | Australia:G | Iceland:L | USA:PG | Sweden:7 | Norway:A | Denmark:A | Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:All | Peru:PT

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

DreamWorks Animation

Trivia:

During the rolling end credits, original comics can be seen, for example, Penny and Lou reading a comic to the porcupine triplets

Goofs:

Continuity: When the animals are in the Verminator's truck, RJ tries to enter through the driver's side window which is closed, yet moments later, when trying to escape Vincent, he jumps in the broken passenger side in, and is tossed out the now open driver's side window, even though nobody had opened it.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[RJ is trying to get a snack from the snack machine and it breaks]
RJ: No! Come on!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Flushed Away (2006)

Soundtrack:

Heist

Funny, Witty, and Well voiced!

While this movie doesn't have the depth of Finding Nemo or Shrek, it was a very fun and well done animation by Dreamworks. The animation was first rate, and the animals were very fun to watch. The voice acting was superb and well cast. What I enjoyed the most about this movie (other than the super funny bits here and there) is the social commentary they presented. It's nothing serious, but it shows us how gluttonous many of us "humans" have become. While many of the human characters are exaggerations, there's quite a bit of truth behind each caricature. My favorite is the Home Owner Association President. She was so overdone (yet so realistic!) that I wasn't sure if I was laughing because it was so true to life, or if it was just so out there.

Anyway, good movie, good times, and go with good company. After some mediocre animation movies from Dreamworks, they hit a good one again with Over the Hedge.