Over The Hedge

***1/2

Reviewed by: John Gallagher

Over The Hedge
"It hits all the right notes. It's cute, it's funny and the creatures and the backdrops are all amazing."

RJ (voiced by Bruce Willis) is a con artist. He doesn't have friends. He uses people for what he needs and then goes on his merry way.

When he tries to steal the food treasures that Vincent (Nick Nolte) has hidden deep within his cave and then watches them being destroyed by a passing truck, he needs help in finding the items again to return to Vincent before the moon is full. Stumbling upon a group of hapless forest creatures, he decides that he can use them to steal the food he needs to return to Vincent.

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Can RJ con his newfound family, or will the possibility of friendship make him think twice about deceiving these creatures?

There isn't really anything bad you can say about Over The Hedge. It hits all the right notes. It's cute, it's funny and the creatures and the backdrops are all amazing. It makes you smile when you are supposed to and it makes you feed sad when the time comes.

RJ, the racoon, is cool. Vincent (Nick Nolte) is a mean bear, with a hankering for a certain type of potato crisp. Verne (Garry Shandling) is a cautious little turtle who wants nothing more than for his family to be safe. Hammy (Steve Carell) is a hyperactive squirrel, who will make you wet yourself. Ozzie and Heather (William Shatner and Avril Lavigne) are father and daughter possums, who spend the days acting dead. Stella (Wanda Sykes), the skunk, is the hardass of the group. Lou and Penny (Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara) are husband and wife porcupines, who have three kids. There are tons of characters in this movie and all of them are great in what they do.

If you enjoy something that you can laugh out loud at and not feel embarrassed - this doesn't apply to people who have watched and enjoyed American Pie presents Band Camp, because there's nothing here for you - then go see this movie.

Reviewed on: 29 Jun 2006
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More cartoon critters learn 'important' lessons.
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Angus Wolfe Murray ***

Director: Tim Johnson, Karey Kirkpatrick

Writer: Len Blum, Lorne Cameron, David Hoselton, Karey Kirkpatrick

Starring: voices of Bruce Willis, Nick Nolte, Garry Shandling, Steve Carell, Wanda Sykes, William Shatner, Thomas Haden Church, Eugene Levy, Allison Janney, Catherine O'Hara, Anril Lavigne, Omid Djalil, Sami Kirkpatrick, Shane Baumel

Year: 2006

Runtime: 83 minutes

BBFC: U - Universal

Country: US

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