Directed by Tim Johnson (Antz and Sinbad) and first time director Karey Kirkpatrick (the writer of Chicken Run,) Over the Hedge is hands down THE BEST animated film of the year!Not that it had much to beat. Ice Age 2, Curious George and the sure-to-be-a-cult-inside-joke-classic-in-some-small-town, Doogal. But this film has been compared to recent animated hits such as Madagascar and Finding Nemo.
I first heard about this film when I saw an early trailer for it with Steve Carrell. Haven recently peed my pants from 40 Year Old Virgin, the idea of an animated Carrell was irresitable. The more I saw, the more I loved. Shatner doing a Shatner impersonation, Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara coupled together again, and Allison Janney to boot! This film had a ridiculous cast, and I was not let down at all by their performances. There was only one complaint I had in that department. Oddly enough, singer Avril Lavigne played William Shatner's (Ozzie's) daughter Heather. There was a very forgettable side story with the two of them, which I found very uneccessary. I wouldn't have minded it as much if I didn't have the unnerving feeling that Lavigne's character's screen time replaced what could have been brilliant comedy of O'Hara and Levy. O'Hara, who plays the mother porcupine, Penny, hardly has any lines. Being quite the fan of the Christopher Guest movies, I longed for their witty banter that has worked so well in other films. Oh well, let's hope there are deleted scenes.
Hedge is about a hungry raccoon RJ (Bruce Willis) who angers a hybernating bear (Nick Nolte) and is forced to replace a year's worth of food. He relies on a "family" of quirky animals who accept him as one of their own. These animals wake up from hibernation to find that most of their forest has given way to Suburbia, complete will cell-phone-while-driving-their-SUVs-and-drinking-coffee-lattes-and-eating-their-fake-cheese-flavored-chips Americans. Adults will appreciate humor and references (better catch up on your Citizen Kane quotes) that does not classify itself as ADULT HUMOR (except maybe for the private-licking and the arbitrary "squirrel's nuts" joke.)
Unlike Ice Age 2, this film does not shove dirty humor down your throats, nor does it sugar coat the world like the pre-school Curious George. This film has humor and situations that EVERYONE can enjoy. And the animation is absolutely incredible. It is so real- but still very cartooney. Send your kids, go with your kids, or go by yourself! Whoever you go see it with, definately go see it in theatres. This is a great summer movie!!
Overall Grade: A
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