Over the Hedge

last updated 8 January 2015

Bugs Bunny would be proud, said Kyle Smith in the New York Post. 'œIf they were still making Looney Tunes, they'd look a lot like Over the Hedge,' a gently satirical tale of forest animals whose home is invaded by a new housing development. The all-star cast delivers spot-on vocal performances. Nick Nolte is a big brown bear with a case of the munchies; Garry Shandling a cowardly turtle; Wanda Sykes a sassy skunk; Steve Carell a hyperactive squirrel. But the ringleader is Bruce Willis' raccoon, R.J., 'œa scheming me-firster who carries a golf bag like Bob Hope.' R.J. is our nature guide to the strange world of suburbia, said Peter Hartlaub in the San Francisco Chronicle. He explains why humans drive SUVs ('œThey're losing their ability to walk') and teaches the animals to forage for nacho chips and energy drinks. Over the Hedge has hijinks for the kids, in-jokes for the parents, and much wittily orchestrated mayhem. This may also be the first children's film 'œto weave a Grand Theft Auto' video game joke into the script, and like just about everything else in the film, 'œit's pretty amusing.' Like Shrek 2, another DreamWorks film, Hedge is designed 'œfor laughter rather than artistry,' said Desson Thomas in The Washington Post. But all this poking fun at the consumerism of humans smacks just a little of hypocrisy. The film seems 'œto want moral brownie points for holding our culture's crassness up to the light.' Yet Wendy's Kids Meals, Crunch 'n Munch cereal, and Trix yogurt are among the kids' foods cross-promoting the movie. 'œThe snarky satire has come full circle.'

Rating: PG