Over The Hedge

Director: Tim Johnson, Karey Kirkpatrick

Starring: Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Steve Carrell

Yes folks! WSC brings you this term’s opportunity act your shoe size and not your age with a showing of the cute, cuddly and indisputably enchanting Over the Hedge. We follow the nutty escapades of RJ the racoon, voiced by Bruce Willis, a cheeky little critter who lands himself in a large spot of bother when he tries to steal a bear’s stash of junk food. After the selection of snacks gets smashed to bits in a wacky highway accident, Vincent the bear is not amused and is right on track to make himself a racoon sandwich! But have no fear people, RJ is ok - he manages to persuade that mean old bear that he will replenish the store within a week. So Vincent agrees, and why not? For one thing it’s a hell of a lot easier to get a racoon to do your dirty work for you, and secondly, how can you possibly have Bruce Willis in a film without giving him a mission!

On his way to complete this task RJ comes across a mixed up group of woodland creatures, led by a wary turtle called Verne, and they have a huge problem. Having woken up from hibernation they discover a humongous hedge now separating them from where they get their main source of food, and when RJ persuades them to investigate, it appears that this feeding ground has now become the site of a human housing development…oh dear! Nevertheless, RJ has the answer, pure and simple: why don’t this little motley crew take to scavenging human junk food? Hmmmm a very sneaky racoon it seems, but how long can this continue before they realise exactly why RJ is being so pushy?

This masterpiece from Dreamworks is an absolute gem. In particular you can’t help but smile at the range of names in the cast list, of course headed by the smooth tough guy Bruce Willis. William Shatner as the preening possum Ozzie and Avril Lavigne voicing his daughter are highlights, although Steve Carell as the hyperactive squirrel Hammy adds so much more to the film’s comedy. Amusing, sweet and charming, this is undoubtedly another cutie to enhance your favourite animations collection.

Laura Sparshot