Over the Hedge-Kinky Animal Love
Recently, I read an article that claimed that America was adding over 2 million newly illiterate citizens to its increasingly paranoid arms every year. So if you are still in the crowd that can read this review, excellent. Obviously our school system is failing our kids and if you have been so kind as to read many of my reviews you know by now that I “bitch” up a storm about how harmful most of Hollywood’s offerings aimed at younger viewers happen to be.
Over the Hedge, however, is a welcomed change. It is simple stuff, very straightforward in fact, as we follow a group of wild animals of different species living together in a makeshift community/family as they deal with the destruction of their habitat via suburban sprawl. The message is great and the flick deals with other environmental issues as well. However, mostly its just a lot of great fun as the plot is heavily driven by a raccoon, named RJ, who must repay a food debt to a bear, Vincent, whose food he stole. Along the way RJ is presented with a moral dilemma as to whether or not he will betray his group of friends. Pretty standard fair, but Over the Hedge is lacking many of the offensive elements that are often found in other animated films of its kind.
Normally, I find the reliance on “famous voices” to be remarkably annoying, but in the case of Over the Hedge, everyone does a great job, from Bruce Willis as RJ to Verne played by Garry Shandling, who is actually not dead, go figure.
In fact, some of the performances are great, such as Steve Carrell as Hammy who really knocks it out of the park.
There are chases and gadgets and a fair amount of good humor that should keep all ages entertained. As always, I wish a few “nobodies” would have been given a break here and there, but we all know that violates Hollywood’s “prime directive” if you will of making sure the rich get richer. The only way you are probably not going to like this film is if you have a severe hatred for the concept that mankind might be going overboard on old Mother Earth. If you think that its all a vast left-wing fairy tale, then you might be annoyed by the mostly subtle message. That aside, Over the Hedge just plain stands out as a great film especially in contrast with its peers.
Visuals A (Over the Hedge is a great looking film, with a tremendous amount of detail in the vast majority of shots.)
Originality/Innovation B+ (Definitely more original than many of its contemporaries, Over the Hedge is a treat.)
Enjoyability Grade A
Home Theater/HD Factor A+ (A must own for any HD-DVD/Blue-Ray owner.)
Overall Grade A (When big budget animated flicks fails it is very painful on the Hollywood fat cat wallets, oh, but when they succeed, its blow and hookers all the way around. Over the Hedge pulls in around $350 million bucks and I would be quite surprised if we did not see a couple of more of these flicks.)
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