Over the Hedge

By Christina VanGinkel

Computer animation is nothing new, but it is fun to watch, and that might be just the reason shows such as this keep hitting the theaters. Over the Hedge is an animated show that combines a variety of input that ultimately comes together to create an entertaining to watch family / adventure / comedy show. It is one of the newest to take a cast of well known's and incorporate their voices with the computer animation for a mixture that is enjoyable for all ages. Rated PG because of some mild comic action and what the critics call rude humor, my husband and I had no issues with bringing our young grandson to the movie theater to watch it. At three years old, he might have been a bit too young to understand some of the rude humor anyhow, but there was still plenty to keep him interested and giggling throughout. We ended up sitting in a nearly empty theater, going to see it when it was on its last days at our local Cinema that hosts eight shows simultaneously. Of those people in the cinema though, the ages ranged from young to old. We had a blast, and I plan to pick up the DVD later this week when it is released.

As to the people behind the voices, the cast of characters includes such well known's as Bruce Willis as RJ, Garry Shandling as Verne, Steve Carell as Hammy, Wanda Sykes as Stella, William Shatner as Ozzie, and Nick Nolte as Vincent, amongst many others. The way these actors portrayed the characters through voice is amazing, and if you have a favorite amongst them, that is reason enough to head out to watch this movie.

The story opens when RJ, a somewhat scheming raccoon, is threatened by the likes of one very angry bear, which he happens to owe a whole wagonload of goods. In order to accomplish this goal, he cons a group of misfit forest creatures into helping him gather up all that he needs, stealing it from a sub division of humans that happen to have built right up to there ever increasingly smaller woodland home. What ensue are some tender moments, mostly shadowed over by lots of laughter.

The basis of the story is simple enough, and that might be why I liked the show as much as I did. There is nothing difficult to figure out, with a plot that can be followed by young and old alike, with plenty of humor along the way. I especially enjoyed the addition of such characters as the Verminator, otherwise known to the average human as an exterminator. To see his tools and traps backfire on the one woman, the president of the Homeowners Association no less, who so vehemently calls them into action is sure to bring a smile to every animal lover alive, and even to those who believe humans really do rule over animals, simply because of the humorous way the scenes are portrayed. With the way the show portrays most humans as gas guzzling SUV drivers and suburbia living gluttons, some might disagree, but if you have even a bit of a sense of humor, you will see the fun in the portrayal more so than the negatives. Even my husband who actually enjoys a whitetail hunt as much as some people might like hitting the tennis courts, found no ill will in the show, just a view from the other side of the proverbial fence, as he so eloquently put it.

I a greatly enjoyed the way the creators of the show saw fit to bring in a bit of humor from some other well known shows, such as the scene where mild mannered Hammy downs a caffeine laden drink and suddenly springs into a scene where all is in slow motion save for fast acting Hammy powered on by the caffeine. I overheard someone compare it to a scene from the Matrix, but it reminded me of the action you commonly see in some of the older Hong Kong action flicks. If you are in the mood for a fun, fast action animated show; I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Over the Hedge when it comes out alter this week!