The animals are likeable, and the humans not so much. Suburbia is encroaching on the forested refuge of some cute animals. The movie takes aim at the wasteful ways of the suburban dwellers. The suburbanites are those who have plenty of everything. The animals represent those who live on the margins of suburbia, subsisting on the cast off extras. SUVs are evil, and they are driven by evil people. Packaged food is evil, and is eaten by evil people. The ultimate tasty snack is the triangular nacho cheese corn chip. Opening a bag sets off a dramatic mushroom cloud of tangy orange flavor dust over the whole neighborhood. The OTH folks sneer at green lawns, garden balls, McMansions, new concrete curbs, homeowners association and suburban women.
I would like to know where the creators live, and now that they are rich and famous, how they have adapted to suburbia.
A hedge constructed between the woods and suburban lawns makes its appearance as the animals awake from hibernation. The opening shot is reminiscent of the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
For the kids, the best character is Hammie the red squirrel. He gets the top scene in the movie to be sure. He is so speedy and hyperactive to begin with, that a dose of a caffeinated energy drink moves him so fast that time stops all around him.
For the grownups, the best characters are Ozzie the opossum and Stella the skunk. Ozzie is voiced by William Shatner. This bit of casting is great as Ozzie cannot resist playing dead (possum) at the slightest hint of danger. HE puts in an award winning performance when needed, pretending to be dead in front of the suburban neighbors.
Stella is played by Wanda Sykes. She is a no-nonsense girl, but cleans up real nice to seduce Tiger the house cat. The mushroom cloud re-appears (green this time) as Stella the skunk gasses a whole house. Although Tiger is unaffected. So true love could blossom in Over the Hedge II. See you in 2008.
Over The Hedge contained a lot of gags, but not nearly as many as I expected. The kids definitely enjoyed it. {BB}
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