luismoviesfordownload

Better than "Madagascar" but pales in comparison to "Shrek". "Over the Hedge", directed by Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick and starring Bruce Willis (Die Hard), Gary Shandling (What Planet are you From), Steve Carell (40 Year Old Virgin), William Shatner (Miss Congeniality) and Wanda Sykes, only barely falls short of entertaining both kids and adults.

Based on the comic strip by Michael Fry and T Lewis, the film centers around R.J., a hungry, con-artist, fast-talking, charming racoon. When R.J. (Willis) attempts to steal a snack supply from a bear named Vincent, eventually just destroying it all together, he is given one week to get back everything that was lost, or pay the dire consequences. Deciding he needs help, he cons a comradery of woodland critters to help him when they wake from hibernation to discover that most of their forest has been replaced with a vast suburban neighborhood. Verne the turtle (Shandling) is the timid leader of the group and the only one who finds himself unable to trust R.J. Hammy the Squirrel (Carell) is a hyperactive nut-job. Stella (Sykes) is a temperamental skunk with man-issues. Ozzie (Shatner) a melodramatic possum skilled at playing dead only ever manages to embarrass his daughter Heather. And a family of porcupines round out the group. R.J must then train and guide them into navigating the territory of their human neighbors and return with a bounty of junk food. That is of course until the Verminator rolls into town.

I've been a fan of the comic strip for a very long time. Besides using the same characters and the BASIC concept (animals invading suburbia and making the most of it), the movie does not capture the fun and humor of the strip. It sort of goes off on it's own tangent, reinventing the concept. The movie is obviously more action-packed (as it should be). R.J is no longer the lazy, sarcastic and guiltless lump from the comics, but rather has been replaced with a more friendly and active version. Hammy the Squirrel was also downplayed quite a bit, and on screen he is less of the screw-ball that comic readers will remember. I encourage fans of the strip to watch the film, but just don't expect it to be as funny.

The humor is cute, and sometimes gives you a good laugh, but usually it feels too dry. Jokes are often recycled gags or just not pushed to the extreme enough. There was potential for more oddball antics and chaos, but the film holds back on the fear of losing the kids. The drama and morals about family and friends also get in the way of really enjoying yourself. There is a laugh-out-loud scene worth mentioning though: and it occurs near the end when Hammy is given caffeine for the first time.

As usual, Dreamworks has created a vividly beautiful CGI film. The time and effort to make the film shows in the level of detail (You can almost count the hairs on the animals). Overall the direction is pretty well done as well, giving plenty of breath-taking moments such as the discovery of the never ending hedge.

Bruce Willis is a decent choice for this new energized R.J. Originally it was Jim Carrey set to star, but when he dropped out, Willis moved in. This would be the first time since "Beavis and Butthead do America" that Bruce would play a cartoon character. And it suits him. Gary Shandling is probably the perfect voice for Verne, offering a whiney father-figure touch. Steve Carell gives an excellent performance as Hammy but there was room for much more energy. However in the end it is William Shatner who steals the show as the lovable Ozzie.

The film makes up for it's lack of over-the-top humor by offering good wholesome family fun. The morals are a little overbearing at times, but that's easily forgivable given the age-demographic of the film. Your attention drifts occasionally and suddenly is pulled back by some kooky action and all is well again. No it's not the comic strip. But it will do.