Over the Hedge (2006)

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.

Directors:

Tim Johnson, Karey Kirkpatrick

Writers:

Len Blum (screenplay), Lorne Cameron (screenplay),

Stars:

Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Steve Carell

6 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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)

Storyline

Traveling raccoon con artist, RJ, arrives in a woods outside a human city in the Midwest, excited about the wonders that living near humans can bring hungry animals. What he finds, however, is an Amish-like community that is deathly afraid of humans, after their leader, Vern the tortoise (Shandling), has an encounter with human boys that terrifies him. Encouraged by RJ, however, the animals slowly venture over the hedge that separates them from the brand new suburban development that appeared over the winter while they were sleeping, and what RJ shows them is a whole new world where humans leave tin cans full of fish and other food in big canisters, ripe for the taking. As they get closer and closer to humans, however, their comfortable lives in the woods appears to be threatened...

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Plot Keywords:

food | raccoon | forest | suburb | exterminator | 

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Taglines:

Get Over It.

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some rude humor and mild comic action

Details

Official Sites:

DreamWorks [us] UIP [de]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 May 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Vecinos invasores

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$1,600,578 (Argentina) (14 July 2006)

Gross:

$155,019,340 (USA) (1 September 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks Animation, Pacific Data Images (PDI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The stackable potato chips branded Spuddies in the film is a spoof of Pringles chips. In an early trailer, the chip brand was known as Jingles and featured the Pringles logo with a court jester's cap on.

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Goofs

When RJ opens the bag of chips, it creates a large puffy cheese cloud that can be seen from space, like around Seattle. However, when the Depelter Turbo activates, a beam shoots out into space, but it comes from somewhere near Chicago.

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Quotes

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

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Crazy Credits

At the end of the rolling credits, RJ (the raccoon) is seen demonstrating to his new family how to operate/hack the same vending machine shown at the beginning of the film into delivering all product. Unfortunately his efforts at obtaining product was stifled by the now vended product blocking the access door.

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Connections

Spoofs Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

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Soundtracks

"Still"
Written & Performed by Ben Folds
Ben Folds recordings used courtesy of Epic Records

User Reviews

Kids will love it, adults will love, and I loved it.

In 'Over the Hedge' Bruce Willis plays RJ, a raccoon who is in trouble. He tried to take Vincent the bear's (Nick Nolte) food and has two weeks to replace it or else. RJ's plan, to con a group of foragers into collecting the food for him. Lead by Verne the turtle (Garry Shandling), who does not trust RJ, the group is impressed with RJ's knowledge of suburbia which has recently invaded their forest and has built a hedge around of what is left of their environment. The group decides to follow RJ, but will it be their undoing?

This is an awesome film with an all-star cast. With the likes of Steve Carell, William Shatner, and Thomas Haden Church; this movie is a true hit. Kids will love it, adults will love, and I loved it. Everyone is perfect in their roles; I have not seen a better animated film since 'Finding Nemo'.