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Over the Hedge is a computer-animated family film from a large Hollywood studio (in this case, DreamWorks), so you know pretty much what to expect: a bunch of anthropomorphized animals voiced by a bevy of celebrities, spouting amusing jokes laced with pop culture references, who go through a series of wacky adventures that splits them apart, but then ultimately brings them back together again, closer friends than ever, and everybody learns a valuable lesson about love and togetherness or something. And indeed OtH does not disappoint in this regard - it fits the formula exactly. And yet somehow it takes all the painfully familiar elements and manipulates them so expertly that you'll hardly notice you've seen it all before. It's a highly entertaining film, and even manages - in the spirit of the comic strip upon which it's based - to include some clever satire on America's food-centric suburban culture, as well as some moving lessons about family. Ben Folds helps in both of these aspects, contributing to the soundtrack a new version of his song "Rockin' the Suburbs" with re-worked lyrics skewering the suburban lifestyle, as well as a number of Randy Newman-style ballads about friendship and so forth.
OtH's anthropomorphized animals consist of a make-shift family of creatures who wake from their winter sleep to discover that their little forest has been cut back to a small green area, surrounded by a high hedge, in the middle of a brand new suburban housing development. A friendly raccoon arrives and offers to help them navigate this frightening new world, but he's really trying to save his own butt - he stole and then lost a nasty bear's entire hoard of food, and now must replace it all before the next full moon or he's done for.
As for the celebrities: the rather Indiana Jones-like raccoon is Bruce Willis; Garry Shandling plays the turtle (who's also the nervous, highly-respected head of the family); Steve Carell disappears completely into the character of Hammy the incredibly overactive squirrel (easily the funniest and most lovable character in the film); Wanda Sykes is the lonely, smartass skunk; William Shatner plays Ozzie the constantly-playing-dead possum as a hilarious parody of...William Shatner; Nick Nolte, with his gravelly voice, does an excellent job growling the lines of the nasty old bear; and Allison Janney (of "The West Wing") is quite believable as the wicked witch of the suburbs, who will stop at nothing to get these filthy animals away from her beautiful home, even going to the point of hiring the creepy exterminator Dwayne, voiced by Thomas Haden Church. And of course, this being a comedy, they are contractually obligated to include a role for Eugene Levy; he plays the good-natured patriarch of a family of 
hedgehogs. Really the only sour note in terms of casting is Avril Lavigne as Heather, Ozzie's daughter. She's just a really poor voice actor, and delivers all her lines woodenly.
But besides that one soft spot, the film is fun, smart, and amusing from top to bottom. It's great for kids and parents alike, so take the whole family and enjoy.
This film is showing at The Bridge and The Riverview; click here for showtimes.
Image Credit: TrailerDownload.net
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