OVER THE HEDGE

Year: 2006
USA: Paramount Pictures
UK: UIP (UK)
Cast: Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, William Shatner, Steve Carrell, Wanda Sykes, Nick Nolte, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Avril Lavigne, Thomas Haden Church, Allison Janney, Omid Djalili, Sami Kirkpatrick, Shane Baumel, Madison Davenport, Zoe Randol, Jessica Di Cicco, Debra Wilson, Sean Bishop, Jeannie Elias, Kejon Kesse, Paul Butcher, Sean Yazbeck, Geoffrey Pomeroy, Joel McCrary, Lee Bienstock, Brian Stepanek, Steve Alterman, Kirk Baily, Jessie Flower, Nicholas Guest, David Hiller, Bridget Hoffman, Sandy Holt, Talula Holt, Erin Lander, Jordan Orr, Michelle Ruff, Greyson Spann, April Struebing, Marcelo Tubert, Ben Becker, Jeanette Biedermann, Michel Brown, Bernhard Hoëcker, Götz Otto, Ralf Schmitz, Ariel Winter
Directors: Tim Johnson, Karey Kirkpatrick
Country: USA
USA: 87 mins
UK: 83 mins
USA Rated: PG for some rude humor and mild comic action
UK Certificate: U contains mild slapstick
USA Release Date: 19 May 2006
UK Release Date: 30 June 2006


Synopsis

Just whose backyard is it, anyway?

Spring has sprung, and Verne and his woodland friends awaken from their long winter's nap to discover that a large, green hedge has cropped up right through the middle of their once-natural habitat. Enter RJ, an opportunistic raccoon who explains that the world beyond the hedge is "the gateway to the good life" where peculiar creatures called humans live to eat, rather than eat to live. "For humans," RJ proclaims, "enough is never enough."

Suspicious and even a little jealous of the charismatic, smooth-talking RJ, the ever-cautious Verne wants to keep his blended family safely on their side of the hedge. But, proving the adage that one man's garbage is another man's—or, rather, animal's—treasure, the manipulative RJ has his own reasons for convincing the woodland band that there is little to fear and everything to gain from their over-indulgent new neighbors. Eventually, RJ and Verne form an unlikely friendship as they and their furry friends learn to coexist with—and even exploit—this strange new world called suburbia.

Heading up an all-star voice cast, Bruce Willis (the DIE HARD franchise, SIXTH SENSE) is the voice of the roguish con-artist raccoon named RJ, and Emmy winner Garry Shandling (TV's THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW, IT'S GARRY SHANDLING'S SHOW) voices the overly practical turtle named Verne. Rounding out the voice cast of OVER THE HEDGE are: Steve Carell (THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN, TV's THE OFFICE) as a hyperactive squirrel named Hammy; comedienne Wanda Sykes (TV's WANDA AT LARGE) as a sassy skunk named Stella; two-time Emmy winner William Shatner (TV's BOSTON LEGAL) as Ozzie, a possum who excels at playing dead with a melodramatic flair; chart-topping recording artist Avril Lavigne as Ozzie's daughter, Heather; Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy (both A MIGHTY WIND, BEST IN SHOW), who are paired as the porcupine couple, Penny and Lou, with a brood of little porcupine mouths to feed; two-time Oscar® nominee Nick Nolte (AFFLICTION, THE PRINCE OF TIDES) as a bear named Vincent; and Omid Djalili (CASANOVA) as a spoiled housecat named Tiger. On the human side of the hedge, four-time Emmy winner Allison Janney (TV's THE WEST WING) plays Gladys, the president of the local homeowners' association, who isn't about to see her neighborhood overrun by wildlife; and Oscar® nominee Thomas Haden Church (SIDEWAYS) is the voice of "The Verminator," whom Gladys hires to rid the area of our woodland heroes.

Based on the popular comic strip by Michael Fry and T Lewis, OVER THE HEDGE was directed by Tim Johnson (ANTZ) and Karey Kirkpatrick (CHICKEN RUN screenwriter), making his directorial debut. Bonnie Arnold (TOY STORY, TARZAN) produced the film, with Bill Damaschke serving as executive producer. The screenplay is by Len Blum and Lorne Cameron & David Hoselton and Karey Kirkpatrick.