Jun 14, 2006

Over the Hedge

Kicking around a dull hotel on a business trip. So last night I thought I'd see a movie. My plan was to see An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore. I am always interested in Global Warming, plus I voted for the man to become president once upon a time.

A Bit of Fun

I ended up buying a ticket to Over the Hedge instead. I just thought something more chipper was in order for the evening. And really, it was real hoot.

The voices were perfect, with schlubby Gary Shandling, manic Steve Carell and phlegmatic Eugene Levy. Bruce Willis was a great charismatic lead, as always, while Will Shatner, my favorite hammy actor, got to enjoy spoofing...er...himself.

Over the Hedge is certainly not a top rank animated film. It's not the caliber of Finding Nemo, Shrek or Toy Story. But of the middle rank animateds, like the Ice Ages, Madagascar and Shark's Tale, Over the Hedge beats them senseless. It is laugh out loud funny and actually follows a storyline (unlike some other middling animateds that merely play on hip wisecracks). An absolute B+ and well worth my $9.50 ticket for the good feelings I took back the lonely hotel.

A Real Message Inside

So, no, I didn't yet see Gore's seminal Inconvenient Truth. I will, I will. :-) But even Over the Hedge has an important message, too: the subdivision that sprang up around the film's hibernating beasties is happening everywhere, every day. And the poor animals remaining in reality are in a similar predicament, with their former foraging acres utterly destroyed. It's no wonder "vermin" have to venture into suburbia for our tempting scraps.

In real life, cute critters like these are dying prolonged, sad deaths from starvation. Or quick, violent ones from professional extermination. Setting aside a tiny acre of green isn't going to be enough. And that is well worth chewing on after you wipe the movie's well-earned laughter tears from your face.

I would watch a sequel. Maybe where the vermin strike back, and ultimately the surburban developers create a new greenbelt, allowing the animals greater access to nearby parks and forest buffers.