Over The Hedge

Over the Hedge is well cast and has great animation, but its storyline lets it down.

Herald rating: * * *

Computer-animated films are reaching screens thick and fast these days, but few, it seems, are classics.

While Over the Hedge is not ground-breaking either technically or for its story, it is a funny and sweet film that succeeds as wholesome family entertainment.

Over the Hedge is directed by Tim Johnson (Antz) and Karey Kirkpatrick (the Chicken Run screenwriter).

It's not the wittiest script to come out of the Dreamworks factory, but the energy and pace of the film make up for the lack of subtlety and wit within the story.

Over the Hedge starts at the beginning of spring, as the inhabitants of a nice, quiet wood wake up to find a confusing structure has gone up next to their home.

A passing raccoon called RJ (Willis) tells them it is a hedge and that beyond it is a life not to be feared but enjoyed for all it has to offer - fast food, garbage, computer games and television.

Much to the horror of Vern (Shandling), a turtle that leads this family of porcupines, possums, a skunk, and a manic, overly dramatic squirrel, RJ manages to convince them to forgo their old methods of foraging for food in the wood for the convenience of stealing from the indulgent humans that "live to eat" in the neighbouring suburban sprawl.

What none of the forest folk realise is that RJ has another agenda, and while they openly accept him into their family he is planning on ripping them off - if the exterminator doesn't get them first.

All the favourite kids' themes and morals are here in true Disney style, alongside amusing observations of how consumer-driven and materialistic humans have become, but Over the Hedge isn't trying to change the world.

While the idea isn't new, and the soundtrack is as sappy as they come, the characters are adorable thanks to cute animation, and brilliant casting and voice acting. Younger audiences won't be able to resist these guys.

Cast Voices: Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Steve Carell, William Shatner, Avril Lavigne

Directors: Tim Johnson, Karey Kirkpatrick

Running Time: 84 minutes

Rating: PG - some scenes may scare young children

Screening: Village, Hoyts and Berkeley cinemas

Verdict: Nothing we haven't seen before, but cute all the same.