DreamWorks’ new animated comedy Over the Hedge is a hilarious old-fashioned caper movie.

A group of woodland creatures must venture through a hedge that separates their forest from a new suburban housing district.

Their mission is to steal food from the humans who appear to waste as much as they consume.

Once the animals, led by RJ the raccoon (Bruce Willis), start their assault on humanville the action gets wild and wacky.

The ever-diminishing voice of reason in this Ocean’s Eleven-like caper is Vern the turtle (Garry Shandling).

Like nutritionist the world over, Verne doesn’t think his fellow creatures should be eating junk food which is one of the messages behind Over the Hedge.

There’s also praise for extended families and the notion that honour and honesty are fundamental assets.

Directors Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick have blended the animation with the voice so it’s impossible to conceive of anyone else creating these wonderful little characters.

Willis is the suave rogue he played so well on Moonlighting and Shandling gives Verne a dead pan weariness.

As the hyperactive squirrel Hammy, Steve Carell steals every scene he’s in. He’s Hedge’s equivalent of Donkey from Shrek. He’s every preschooler on a sugar high.

Because it doesn’t over use pop culture references, Over the Hedge has less to offer adults than Shrek, but because it’s as charming and winning as Monsters, Inc. and Finding Nemo, parents won’t mind taking the kids.
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