What do our forest friends think about the ever-expanding human population into the woods, the massive over consumption of food and the bloated materialistic perspectives they witness? 'Over the Hedge', a comic strip inspired, computer animated, satirical look at the American suburban lifestyle seeks to enlighten and entertain us as we are quelled by the fuzzy, pudgy cuteness of these furry (and one not so furry) interpreters of the grove.

'Over the Hedge' has been a comic strip staple in many newspapers, making its appearance in 1995 and currently on the web at www.unitedmedia.com. Created by Michael Fry and T Lewis, 'Over the Hedge' has a vibrant and colorful setting similar to POGO and Bloom Country with a soften wit similar to Calvin and Hobbes. The lead characters, RJ the raccoon and Verne the turtle cognitively hang out in the philosophical world of truth and existence as they scourge for food in the suburban cornucopia of endless food and fodder.

DreamWorks Animation in Glendale, California began this planned production in 2002 (development talks began earlier). With most feature animations taking 3-4 years to complete production, this movie’s release schedule plans for a May 19, 2006 domestic launch and appears on schedule. Directors Tim Johnson (Antz) and Karey Kirkpatrick guided this project through the maze of witty storytelling and technical 3D animation wizardry using a screenplay by Len Blum, Lorne Cameron, David Hoselton and Karey Kirkpatrick.

The movie takes the point of view from a cast of forest creatures, including RJ the raccoon (Bruce Willis) and Verne “I’m a reptile” turtle (Garry Shandling), as they come to terms with finding food in their ever shrinking world. Spring has arrived and the hibernation season is over. Verne leads his fellow forest friends to search for food. When Hammy (voiced by Steve Carell), a hyperactive squirrel* finds a large“Steve”** continuing on each side “forever”, Verne steps in to ban his extended family from going near the Steve. Stella the skunk (Wynda Sykes), Ozzie (William Shatner) the opossum and his daughter Heather (Avril Lavigne), a porcupine couple Penny (Cathrine O’Hara) and a Lou (Eugene Levy) and their three little porcupines makes up this eclectic crew of forest friends. Now, enter RJ, a smooth talking raccoon seeking to help out the crew with his knowledge of the humans on the other side of the hedge.

The night before, RJ the raccoon has been dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight by tip-toeing through a bear cave and stealing the people food. The hibernating bear, Vincent (Nick Nolte) catches RJ, RJ looses the food, and Vincent prepares to kill RJ. RJ swears to replace all of the human food for Vincent within seven days. Confused and hungry, RJ comes across the bewildered forest crew the next day. Here, his plan of a double cross is conceived and put into motion as he sells the wonders of the human world to the Verne and friends. While the deceptive tension is planted, it does not escalate dramatically until the climatic end as RJ’s grand plan to raid the food from the human’s home Gladys (Allison Janney), the president of the neighborhood housing association yet under the watchful sentry of a overweight Persian house cat names Tiger (Omid Djalili).

Throw in a pest control expert “The Verminator” (Thomas Hayden Church) and fur will fly as the dynamic and crafty animals seek their fortunes of food in the backyards of the unknowing suburbanites.

Following on the heels of 'Shrek' and 'Shark Tales', 'Over the Hedge' raise the bar on conveying human emotions in animated movements and animated faces. This level of believability let me transcend the silver screen and cross over in to the hedge world. I was pulled in by the animation despite the overused climax set up of sequencing examples of the driving motive. Part again was due to the realistic animation, another drawing (no pun intended) factor was the smart and insightful writing that drives this more as political commentary then as a kid’s boob tube pacifier. While this colorful, warm and fuzzy movie satirizes the over consumption of the American public, on a broader, deeper level it sends an important message about the importance of family and integrity. Bordering on adorable, Hammy steals the show. Second to this performance, I think, is that of Stella. This skunk with an attitude seems to optimize all the skunks that I have crossed in the woods. They’ve got a bold and fearless quality about them. One question that I will continue in speculation is the change of RJ’s voice from Jim Carrey to Bruce Willis. While Bruce brings a cool cat, smooth talking street-smart raccoon, I think Jim’s wacky personality could have taken this character into a more goofy and misunderstood raccoon. However you take it, 'Over the Hedge' will be the spring’s hit that will launch us into the summer moviegoing season.

*As most are unless they’ve been domesticated. See these fat waddling squirrels in urban parks or high human recreation areas like Yosemite.

**Hammy names the Hedge “Steve”