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 Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | 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:

Bruce Willis replaced Jim Carrey as the voice of RJ.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Verne and RJ are fighting over the wagon full of food and RJ falls to the ground, the dog's chain is not in the picture, but when RJ starts to stand up, the chain is underneath him.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

References "Dr. Phil" (2002)

Soundtrack:

Rockin' the Suburbs (Over the Hedge Version)

Great actors, great theme, great comedy, great movie.

I was able to see an advance showing of this movie with a mostly college-age audience and everyone was laughing throughout the movie. It was excellent. As my friend to the left said, sometimes the movie was over the top as well as over the hedge, but those times were some of the most hilarious. Action sequences early in the movie that had people roaring with laughter were topped by ones later on and small tidbits of comedy were spread throughout. Add to that the typical messages about family, friends, and doing-right and you have the formula for a great family comedy. The voice acting was solid; a really fine ensemble cast. I don't buy many animated movies, but I may have to pick this one up. Wheee!