If you’ve confused Over the Hedge with a Pixar film,
that’s OK — the plot of this delightful flick appears to borrow
from Toy Story.
Just like Cowboy Woody and Buzz Lightyear, the two main characters in Hedge, Verne the turtle and RJ
the raccoon (voiced by Garry Shandling and Bruce Willis, respectively),
form a strong friendship only after overcoming initial misgivings about
each other. However, Verne’s suspicions of the crafty raccoon are
right on the money. Seems RJ inadvertently destroyed a large stash of junk
food, as well as a red wagon and blue cooler, belonging to Vincent (Nick
Nolte), a massive bear with an appetite for everything. With just a week to
replace the massive amount of chips, dip, and cookies he’s trashed,
RJ stumbles across just what he needs — a clan of foragers
who’ve just awakened from hibernation and are eager to start
gathering grub for next winter. They’re a colorful crew and no match for
RJ’s slick, fast-talking style. The raccoon soon convinces them that
the good life lies just beyond the massive hedge that separates them from
the obscene suburban sprawl that’s nearly replaced them. Gathering
junk food and anything else they need, and many things they don’t,
from these sated, jaded human beings is as easy as pie. Hedgehogs Lou and
Penny (Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara) and their three offspring
immediately fall for this vision, as do possums Ozzie and Heather (William
Shatner and Avril Lavigne), Stella the skunk (Wanda Sykes) and Hammy the
squirrel (Steve Carell). Verne, however, doesn’t buy RJ’s pitch
for a second. Directors Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick skewer our consumer society
with great relish as they point out that massive SUVs usually carry only
one person at a time, that for us “enough is never enough,” and
that our only purpose is to grow, expand, and destroy without any real
reason. This is mirrored wonderfully by the animals themselves: They turn
into junk-food junkies after their first taste of corn chips and are soon
wired on cola and energy drinks and frying their minds with portable video
games and music players. Although kids in the audience will regard these
scenes as cute — and they are — adults won’t be able to
avoid the broadside Johnson and Kirkpatrick deliver regarding our current
way of life. Had they been equally pointed with regard to the effects of
suburban expansion on the animals’ habitat, then the film would have
been complete — and probably too heavy for audiences. As it is, Over the Hedge is satisfying
summer entertainment. Also in theaters this weeks. . . An American Haunting [PG-13]
Documented as the first death of a human caused by a spirit, the story of a
19th century Tennessee family and the mysterious circumstances surrounding
the death of their daughter. ShowPlace East
The Benchwarmers [PG-13]
A trio of middle-aged has-beens forms a baseball team to compete against
area Little League teams in a feeble attempt to gain some dignity. Parkway Pointe
The Da Vinci Code [PG-13]
The suspenseful tale of a death in the Louvre and a symbolic conundrum
linked to the Priory of Sion, a mysterious group holding a deep
secret that could shake the foundation of modern day Christianity. ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Hoot [PG] Three
middle-school kids take a stand against some foul play regarding a group of
endangered owls. White Oaks
Just My Luck [PG-13]
Ashley, a Manhattan mover and shaker, flip flops fortunes with an ill-fated
young man after a kiss. She’s no longer lady lucky. ShowPlace East
Mission Impossible 3 [PG-13]
With his team reassembled, spy Ethan Hunt steps out of retirement to stop
the evil deeds of Owen Davian, a devious weapons supplier. ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Over the Hedge [PG] RJ,
a fast-talking shady raccoon persuades the community of rodents living on
the outskirts of suburbia to take a chance and enter the wonderful world of
scavenging food from humans. Parkway Pointe,
ShowPlace East
Poseidon [PG-13] A
remake of the maritime adventure flick about a sinking ocean liner and the
unlucky passengers stranded on board. ShowPlace
West, ShowPlace East
R.V. [PG] The Munro
family try their luck at an old-fashioned family camping trip to the
Rockies, but a group of cracked campers beat them to the punch. ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East, Route 66 Drive-In
See No Evil [R] A group
of criminal teens are sent to clean a decrepit hotel only to find they are
trespassing on the territory of a reclusive serial killer. Parkway Pointe
Silent Hill [R] On a
road trip to help save her ailing daughter, Rose Da Silva stops in Silent
Hill, a desolate town with an evil presence. Rose’s daughter goes
missing, but in Silent Hill things aren’t always as they seem. Parkway Pointe, Route 66 Drive-In
Stick It [PG-13]
Rebellious Haley leaves her life of trouble after a clash with the police
to return to a prim and polished existence as a top gymnast with the
celebrated coach, Burt Vickerman (Jeff Bridges). ShowPlace West, Route 66 Drive-In
Take the Lead [PG-13]
Ballroom dancer Pierre Dulane takes on a bunch of New York City school
kids, and when the footwork of ballroom and hip-hop collide, a new style is
born. White Oaks
United 93 [R] The story
of the men and women on one of the planes hijacked on 9/11. ShowPlace West
This article appears in May 18-24, 2006.
