Over the Hedge (2006)

Movie Review for Parents

It’s a mob boss type scandal in the forest when Vincent the bear (voiced by Nick Nolte) catches RJ raccoon (voiced by Bruce Willis) trying to steel his mountain of food supply. Inadvertently, the food is destroyed, and Vincent vows to kill RJ if he doesn’t find a way to get it all back before the next full moon.

When RJ stumbles across a family of forest animals who are up against a major obstacle – the unknown – he decides to use their fear and naivety to help him save his own skin. Having just woken up from their long winter nap, Verne the turtle (voiced by Garry Shandling) and his family, consisting of a squirrel, a skunk, two possums, and a family of porcupines, wonder at what to do about the huge hedge that has sprung up while they were sleeping. RJ interrupts the confounded clan and promises that on the other side of the hedge lies a utopian food fest called suburbia, where he will help them gather all the food they will need to survive spring, summer, and next winter too.

After much teaching in the art of RJs scavenging ways, the animals get to work. Despite Verne’s warnings, they make daily trips into the yards of their human neighbors, steeling food and other goods. Their foraging is not appreciated by some of the humans though, and when things go very wrong, the animal friends learn who they can really count on.

The movie builds on a great storyline premise, and the satire comically points out some of the foibles of the human race. Parts of the movie may be scary for young children, but kids will like the animals and the excitement of the food caper, and Over the Hedge has plenty to offer for parents too. While some of the funniest scenes were already shown in the movie trailers, there are still some golden moments left to surprise viewers.

The animals in Over the Hedge face several moments of peril both from the bear who vows to “kill” them and from the crazy HOA president Gladys, who hires an exterminator and expresses a wish that they die a very inhumane death. Traps she puts in her yard are capable of smashing, stabbing, and practically frying any cute, furry little animal that steps into her yard.

Also, the movie contains a couple of instances of crude and/or potty humor, an example of which is when the animals put a cork in Stella the skunk so that she can’t spray her skunky smell. The actual placing of the cork is not shown, just referenced twice.

• The movie has underlying themes surrounding consumerism and environmentalism that may be fun to discuss with older kids.
• What is the definition of "family," and what responsibility do family members have for each other?