Dreamworks is getting closer to making a cartoon of near-Pixar caliber even if they had to acquire the movie rights to a daily newspaper strip to come this far. The majority of people don’t buy a daily newspaper so they’ll probably think this was an original idea. Anyway, Dreamworks is more on target than they were with past yawners Shrek, Shark’s Tale, Antz and (the worst of the batch) Madagascar. These movies bit or at best were mediocre. Why? Because Dreamworks was founded by three bigshots (mainly the one snubbed at Disney) who think you’re supposed to be impressed whenever a famous actor does the voice acting for their weak features. Antz is the strongest example of casting through a rolodex. Hedge may be a sign that such thinking has ended. I think it’s possible the directors actually had control of who they wanted to cast for the characters’ voices since the only big name is Bruce Willis as the smart-ass raccoon RJ. The remaining animals and humans are comedians (Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Wanda Sykes, Steve Carell and Gary Shandling), pop stars (Avril Lavinge) and the B-List (William Shatner, Nick Nolte, Allison Janney and Thomas Haden Church). Now Dreamworks needs to put in additional effort to acquire that Pixar-caliber story if they’ve stopped covering it up with fame. That last criticism doesn’t mean I disliked the movie, I just didn’t find the plot especially compelling but maybe my familiarity with the newspaper strip raised my expectation. Then again, when it comes to animated movies primarily aimed at children, it’s the execution of the story and here is where Hedge succeeded despite its predictability, preachiness and blatant plugs for HP inkjet printers and digital cameras. Dreamworks has definitely improved on their comic timing and stopped depending upon visual references to numerous other movies (a huge complaint in Shrek).
For music fans, there are songs by Ben Folds along with a cover of the Clash’s “Lost in a Supermakret” and a remake of “Rockin’ the Suburbs” featuring new lyrics (as in verses and chorus) minus the profanity. Parents will have enough to deal with on the car ride home when the kids start burping the alphabet (thanks to Hammy/Carell), no need to add swearing in the mix (they’ll learn enough of that on the playground and cable).
This is my first movie for the Summer Blockbuster season and I can only tell others, especially those with children to save your money. Over the Hedge was enjoyable, amusing and there were some sequences I actually laughed at. But it was $6.25/person at matinee price! It could be rented for less when it appears on Blockbuster/Hollywood’s shelves this Fall. There was nothing in this movie the theater added to the experience except the frustration of the projectionist letting the sound go to hell for the first five minutes (some weird buzz in the lower front corner of the room), the air conditioning not being on and my biggest peeve, morons compelled to talk amongst themselves at full volume. If there’s nothing else to see at the local multiplex, sure, see this. Otherwise, just jot this down on a list for a future rental when Winter comes and you’re cooped up with children under 10.