| Over the Hedge | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Based on | |
| Produced by | Bonnie Arnold |
| Starring | |
| Edited by | John K. Carr |
| Music by | Rupert Gregson-Williams |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures[a] |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 83 minutes[3] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $80 million[4] |
| Box office | $339.8 million[3] |
Over the Hedge is a 2006 American animatedheistcomedy film directed byTim Johnson andKarey Kirkpatrick and written byLen Blum, Lorne Cameron,David Hoselton and Kirkpatrick, based onthe comic strip byMichael Fry and T. Lewis. Produced byDreamWorks Animation, the film features the voices ofBruce Willis,Garry Shandling,Steve Carell,William Shatner,Wanda Sykes andNick Nolte. Set inIndiana, the plot follows RJ, araccoon who is forced to deliver food to a bear named Vincent after accidentally destroying his stockpile of food, whereupon he manipulates a family of woodland animals who have recently awakened from hibernation into helping him steal food in order to speed up the process.
Over the Hedge was theatrically released in the United States on May 19, 2006 byParamount Pictures. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success, grossing $339.8 million worldwide on an $80 million budget.
InIndiana, a raccoon named RJ, unable to find food for himself, attempts to steal a stockpile from a hibernating bear named Vincent. The plan backfires when Vincent is woken up by the commotion and the food is destroyed. Vincent almost kills RJ, who offers to replace his food by the time the full moon approaches, which is in one week's time. Vincent threatens to kill him if he fails or tries to run away.
The next morning, a family of woodland animals led by a turtle named Verne awaken fromhibernation on the first day of spring. They discover that most of the forest they lived in has been turned into ahousing development, separated from the remaining forest by a giant hedge. RJ introduces himself to the group and explains that they can obtain better food by scavenging off the humans. Despite Verne's concerns, RJ convinces the other animals to steal and stockpile food and other human stuff, unaware of his true intentions of delivering the stash to Vincent, paying off his debt. Gladys Sharp, the neighborhoodhomeowner association president, notices the animal problem and hires exterminator Dwayne LaFontant. While RJ tries to stop a worried Verne from returning the pile of food in order to avoid Dwayne, the food is destroyed following a chase by an excitedRottweiler named Nugent. RJ blames Verne for the destruction while Verne tries to convince his family not to follow RJ for their own safety; the family shuns him in favor of RJ after the former accidentally insults them.
That night, RJ witnesses Dwayne rigging animal traps, including an illegal contraband device called the Depelter Turbo, in Gladys' yard. Verne reconciles with RJ and the other animals, and RJ convinces everyone to invade Gladys' home and steal her massive stockpile of food. The squirrel Hammy disables the Depelter Turbo while thestriped skunk Stella steals the collar of Gladys'Persian cat, Tiger, which enables entry into the house. The animals stockpile another wagon full of food, but before leaving, RJ sees a can of Spuddies potato chips and becomes determined to get it per Vincent's request. RJ flees with the food while Verne and the other animals are captured by Dwayne, who takes them away in his truck.
Upon delivering the food to Vincent, RJ sees Dwayne's truck driving past. In an attempt to free the animals, he crashes the wagon into Dwayne's van and knocks him unconscious. This prompts an enraged Vincent to attack RJ and the other animals while the porcupine triplets drive the truck back to the neighborhood. Verne convinces them to forgive RJ during the commotion. The animals crash the truck into Gladys' home and return to the hedge, only to be attacked by Vincent, Gladys, and Dwayne. Hammy, fueled by an energy drink, reactivates the Depelter Turbo while RJ and Verne trick Vincent into leaping over the hedge, resulting in him, Gladys, and Dwayne being caught in the Depelter Turbo. The localanimal control service ships Vincent to theRocky Mountains, Gladys and Dwayne are arrested for possessing the Depelter Turbo and resisting arrest; Dwayne's attempt to escape arrest is thwarted by Nugent. In the aftermath, RJ rejoins the woodland creatures permanently alongside Tiger, who had fallen in love with Stella. After Verne thinks they have wasted a week's worth of food gathering for the winter, Hammy reveals he has found the nuts he had stored for the previous winter, replenishing the animals' food supply.
During the film's end credits, anepilogue shows that three and a half months later, Dwayne breaks Gladys out of jail and hires her to joined his exterminating business as his partner as revenge on the crew for defeating them, a redeemed Vincent becomes the newest member of the gang and thus forgives RJ's debt, and the newly-assembled crew continues to steal more food until the year's winter starts, giving RJ what he really needs even better than food, a real family.
Two minor human characters named Lunch Table Larry and BBQ Barry who appear during the dog chase scene, were voiced by Lee Bienstock andSean Yazbeck, two participants onThe Apprentice 5 as part of a reward for winning a task.[8]
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Bill Murray andHarold Ramis were initially considered as the voices of RJ and Verne, respectively.[9] In July 2002,Jim Carrey was announced to co-star in the film as RJ, withGarry Shandling as Verne. However, Carrey dropped out in October 2004 and was replaced byBruce Willis, although some of the former's lines remained.[10][11][12][13]Gene Wilder was offered a role in the film as well, namely an owl named Norbert, but he turned it down, and that character was ultimately scrapped.[13]
Production officially began on July 15, 2002.[13] While production was based at DreamWorks' Glendale campus, a satellite crew working out of thePacific Data Images studios helped with additional animation, effects, and lighting support.[14]
The soundtrack for the film was released on May 16, 2006, byEpic Records.Rupert Gregson-Williams composed the original score whileHans Zimmer served as an executive music producer andBen Folds contributed three original songs, along with a rewrite of his song "Rockin' the Suburbs" and a cover ofThe Clash's "Lost in the Supermarket".[15]
For the Japanese and Korean dubs of the movieBoA provides the voice of Heather the opossum and sings the theme songs, "KEY OF HEART" for the Japanese release,[16] and "People Say" for the Korean release.[17]
| Over the Hedge: Music from the Motion Picture | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Various Artists | |
| Released | May 16, 2006 |
| Studio | DreamWorks Animation |
| Genre | Pop,rock,soundtrack |
| Length | 48:45 |
| Label | |
| Producer | Hans Zimmer[15] |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [18] |
| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Family of Me" | Ben Folds | 1:28 |
| 2. | "RJ Enters the Cave" | Rupert Gregson-Williams | 4:37 |
| 3. | "The Family Awakes" | Rupert Gregson-Williams | 2:33 |
| 4. | "Heist" | Ben Folds | 3:02 |
| 5. | "Lost in the Supermarket" | Ben Folds(Originally byThe Clash) | 3:30 |
| 6. | "Let's Call It Steve" | Rupert Gregson-Williams | 3:40 |
| 7. | "Hammy Time" | Michael Whitlock | 2:28 |
| 8. | "Still" | Ben Folds | 2:38 |
| 9. | "Play?" | Rupert Gregson-Williams | 1:49 |
| 10. | "Rockin' the Suburbs" | Ben Folds(Featuring a speaking part byWilliam Shatner) | 4:57 |
| 11. | "The Inside Heist" | Rupert Gregson-Williams | 7:38 |
| 12. | "RJ Rescues His Family" | Rupert Gregson-Williams | 4:18 |
| 13. | "Still (Reprise)" | Ben Folds | 6:07 |
| Total length: | 48:45 | ||
Over the Hedge had an original release date of November 2005;[19] however, in December 2004, the date was changed to May 2006. The film was originally to be distributed by DreamWorks Animation's former parent company DreamWorks SKG (whom distributed DWA's films from 1998 to 2005). In late 2005, distributorParamount Pictures' parent companyViacom purchasedDreamWorks Pictures, which lead DWA to terminate its distribution contact with its former parent and sign a seven-year distribution deal with Paramount in early 2006 (the latter would later obtain distribution rights to the DWA films that were released by DreamWorks SKG from 1998-2005 until 2014 when DWA acquired Paramount's distribution rights to the pre-2012 library, and the distribution rights were transferred to20th Century Fox, DWA's distribution partner from 2013 to 2017, after the end of their distribution deal with Paramount in 2012, the distribution rights were transferred again toUniversal Pictures in 2018, after its parent companyNBCUniversal purchased DreamWorks Animation in 2016 and after the end of their distribution deal with 20th Century Fox in 2017), and thus,Over the Hedge became DreamWorks Animation's first film to be distributed under this deal.[20] The film was screened as a "work-in-progress" on April 29, 2006, at theIndianapolis International Film Festival,[21] and premiered on April 30 in Los Angeles.[2] Nolte, Willis, Lavigne, Shandling, Sykes, O'Hara and Steve Carell attended the premiere.[2]
The film was theatrically released in the United States on May 19, 2006 byParamount Pictures.[22] In select theaters, it was accompanied by the short filmFirst Flight.[22] The film was also screened out of competition on May 21, 2006, at theCannes Film Festival.[23][24]
Over the Hedge was released onDVD, inwide- and full-screen editions, by DreamWorks Animation's newly-formed home entertainment division andParamount Home Entertainment on October 17, 2006.[25]
The film was released onBlu-ray on February 5, 2019, byUniversal Pictures Home Entertainment as aWalmart exclusive,[26] and was subsequently given a wider release on June 4.[27]
The film's home media releases featureHammy's Boomerang Adventure, a short film taking place after the events of the film that was also later added in theMadly Madagascar (2013) DVD as a bonus feature. It featuresSteve Carell,Bruce Willis,Madison Davenport,Shane Baumel, Sami Kirkpatrick andGarry Shandling reprising their roles from the main film.
Avideo game based on the film was released on May 9, 2006. Developed byEdge of Reality,Beenox andVicarious Visions, it was published byActivision for thePlayStation 2,Microsoft Windows,Xbox,GameCube,Nintendo DS andGame Boy Advance.[28] Shane Baumel, Sami Kirkpatrick, and Madison Davenport were the only ones to reprise their roles for the video game while the other characters were voiced by different actors.
Three different versions of the video gameOver the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! were released by Activision in the fall of 2006: a miniature golf game for Game Boy Advance, an action adventure game for Nintendo DS, and a platform game forPlayStation Portable.[29]
Scholastic published a series of picture books to tie-in with the film. Two books,Over the Hedge: Meet the Neighbors andOver the Hedge: Movie Storybook, were both authored bySarah Durkee and illustrated by Michael Koelsch.[30][31]
On its opening weekend,Over the Hedge finished in second place toThe Da Vinci Code,[32] but its gross of $38,457,003 did not quite live up to DreamWorks Animation's other titles released over the past few years.[33] The film had a per-theater average of $9,474 from 4,059 theaters.[33] In its second weekend, the film dropped 30% to $27,063,774 for a $6,612 average from an expanded 4,093 theaters and finishing third,[33] behindX-Men: The Last Stand andThe Da Vinci Code.[34] Since it was Memorial Day Weekend, the film grossed a total of $35,322,115 over the four-day weekend, resulting in only an 8% slide.[35] In its third weekend, the film held well with a 24% drop to $20,647,284 and once again placing in third behindThe Break-Up andX-Men: The Last Stand, for a $5,170 average from 3,993 theaters.[36] The film closed on September 4, 2006, after 112 days of release, grossing $155,019,340 in the United States and Canada, along with $180,983,656 internationally for a worldwide total of $336,002,996,[3] against a production budget of $80 million.[4]
OnRotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 75% based on 172 reviews, with an average score of 6.80/10. The site's consensus states: "Even if it's not an animation classic,Over the Hedge is clever and fun, and the jokes cater to family members of all ages."[37] OnMetacritic, the film has a score of 67 out of 100 based on 31 critics.[38] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.[39]
Ken Fox ofTVGuide.com praised the film for being "a slysatire of American 'enough is never enough' consumerism and blind progress at the expense of the environment. It's also very funny, and the little woodland critters that make up the cast are a kiddie-pleasing bunch."[40]Roger Ebert of theChicago Sun-Times give the film three out of four and called it "Not at the level ofFinding Nemo orShrek, but is a lot of fun, awfully nice to look at, and filled with energy and smiles."[41] Nick De Semlyen ofEmpire give the film three out of five and wrote, "You'll soon be sick of digital furballs, but there's plenty of fun here and Hammy is up there withIce Age'sScrat in the pantheon of lunatic movie rodents."[42]Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardian gave the film two out of five, writing "The spoilt and wasteful American consumer is satirised in this patchy animated comedy from DreamWorks."[43]
| Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Award | Category | Recipients | Result |
| Annie Awards | Best Animated Feature[44] | Nominated | |
| Character Animation in a Feature Production | Kristof Serrand | Nominated | |
| Character Design in a Feature Production | Nico Marlet | Won | |
| Directing in a Feature Production | Tim Johnson &Karey Kirkpatrick | Won | |
| Production Design in a Feature Production | Paul Shardlow | Nominated | |
| Storyboarding in a Feature Production | Thom Enriquez | Nominated | |
| Gary Graham | Won | ||
| Voice Acting in a Feature Production | Wanda Sykes | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Awards | Best Animated Feature[45] | Nominated | |
| Kids' Choice Awards | Animated Movie | Nominated | |
| Voice From an Animated Movie[46] | Bruce Willis | Nominated | |
| Online Film Critics Society Awards | Best Animated Film[47] | Nominated | |
| People's Choice Awards | Favorite Family Movie[48] | Nominated | |
| Saturn Awards | Best Animated Film[49] | Nominated | |
| Toronto Film Critics Association Awards | Best Animated Film[50] | Nominated | |
| Cannes Film Festival | Golden Camera | Karey Kirkpatrick | Nominated |
| Capri Hollywood International Film Festival | Capri Arts Award | Enzo Ghinazzi | Won |
| Genesis Awards | Outstanding Family Feature - Animated | DreamWorks | Nominated |
| Gold Derby Awards | Best Animated Feature | Best Animated Feature | Nominated |
| Golden Schmoes Awards | Best Animated Movie of the Year | Best Animated Movie of the Year | Nominated |
| Indianapolis Film Festival | Best Family Film[51] | Tim Johnson &Karey Kirkpatrick | Won |
In May 2007, DreamWorks Animation CEOJeffrey Katzenberg said thatOver the Hedge would not receive a sequel due to its box office performance, saying that "It was close. An almost."[52] In October 2010, an article explaining the possibility of a sequel was posted on the officialOver the Hedge blog, saying that if a sequel failed to perform as well financially as the first film, DreamWorks could lose money on the project:[53]
TheOver the Hedge film cost about $100 million to make (with allocated overhead included) [...] In the end the film nets about $50 million. Not bad. But it's not the $300-$400 million thatShrek netted.
Now let's say you want to makeHedge II. First off, you have to actually pay the actors this time. They did the first one for a fraction of their usual rates with the hope that there would be a sequel and they could cash in. That adds about $20 million to the budget. Now your margin is pretty slim. If the second film doesn't perform as well as the first you could actually lose money. So, when you have the choice of doingMadagascar III (Mad II nets $200 million) andHedge II, that's no choice at all.
Combine this with the fact that DWA is a small studio that makes 2 to 3 movie per year [sic] and the choice becomes even easier. A larger studio could makeHedge II and amortize the potiential [sic] risk across 20-30 movies instead of just 3. [...] In the end, the only hope forHedge II or aHedge TV show is if DWA is bought by a large studio. Which will happen eventually. Eventually being defined as a long, long time.
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