Film Review of
Over the Hedge
Directors: Tim Johnson & Karey
Kirkpatrick (2006)
Distributor: United International Pictures (UIP)
Certificate: U
Reviewed by Andrew Wooding
Spoiler notice: If you read on will become aware
of some of the content of the film.
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Main Characters:
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Yes, it’s another one – yet another computer animated feature,
signalling the death knell of traditional 2D animation. They’re coming
thick and fast. In recent months we’ve had Ice Age 2, Chicken Little,
Cars, Madagascar and more. Now it’s the turn of Over the Hedge which
is loosely based on an American newspaper comic strip about a group of forest
animals spying on suburban humans “over the hedge”.
As usual, a plethora of celebrities have been roped in to provide the voices, my favourite being William Shatner. For once his hammy acting is entirely appropriate, and I loved his brave possum character. Bruce Willis is also excellent as the scheming RJ, a raccoon who lives in fear of a ferocious bear called Vincent, voiced by Nick Nolte.
Although I haven’t read the comic strip, I believe that it contains
many observations about humans from the viewpoint of the animals. This film
is the same, with important messages about pollution, food wastage, consumerism
and in particular the building of endless housing estates without a thought
as to how they will affect the animal life in the vicinity.
More than that, the film is about friendship, trust and family. In our individualistic world, it is great to see a film that has a central message about how we need each other and powerfully shows the strength of caring communities.
This is by no means a classic, and I still prefer Toy Story 1 and 2. But I laughed a lot, I came to care for these characters, and in their quest for food they gave me “food” for thought about the human condition. And there’s a wonderful inventive scene towards the end involving a caffeine overdose! A great way to spend 90 minutes and a film that will be enjoyed by adults and children alike.
Through the lens of Christian Faith
Some key themes:
- Is it better to “go it alone” or to have the support of others?
- What does it mean to be a Christian family or community?
“The group of believers were united in their hearts and spirit. All those in the group acted as though their private property belonged to everyone in the group. In fact, they shared everything” (Acts 4 v 32).
There are some clever spiritual insights in the first half of Over the Hedge.
When the forest animals awake after their winter hibernation, they are astonished
to find that during the winter their landscape has changed completely. Instead
of open forestland, there is now a tall endless hedge blocking their way The
first thing they do is give it a name and pray to it ("O great almighty
Steve, we ask you to…"). They are afraid of the hedge, and believe
that by worshipping it they can appease it. What might this say to us about
our own understanding of and relationship with God?
Later, when the animals have been converted to the new ways by the raccoon RJ, the cynic Verne points out that RJ can't be all that great because he can't walk on water, meaning he's not their Messiah or Saviour. Amusingly, we then see RJ doing just that in the background – walking across the surface of someone's back garden pond. (There are obviously some stepping stones in the pond that he is tiptoeing across.)
Verne is correct in his observation. The only reason RJ is introducing new ways to the animals is that he wants them to forage for human food rather than nuts and berries. He has just a week to deliver a huge pile of food to Vincent the bear's cave otherwise Vincent will eat RJ alive. The animals don't know this. They think RJ is helping them stock up for the next winter, but instead he is using them, pretending to like them so that they will gather food for his secret needs.
RJ is a self-confessed loner who calls himself a "family of one". He reminds me of the character that Simon and Garfunkel sang about in their song "I Am a Rock": "Hiding in my room, safe within my womb. I touch no one and no one touches me. I am a rock, I am an island."
The trouble is that the forest creatures grow to like RJ and treat him like
a member of their family. They even provide a room for him with all the comforts
of home, including RJ's ideal luxury: a television set with a universal remote
control! Their actions remind me of the early Christians written about in the
book of Acts, who shared everything they had with each other and made sure
everyone's needs were met. RJ is touched by the kindness and acceptance of
the animals and grows to feel increasingly bad about his treatment of them.
I'm not going to give away the ending to the film, but if I was RJ the loner
I would probably realise that I was fooling myself about going it alone and
come to understand that I do indeed need the support of other people. Again,
using the words of Simon and Garfunkel: "If you need a friend I'm sailing
right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind."
Also, as an evangelist I am challenged by the actions of the animals. They welcomed RJ in while he was still a sinner, and as a result it changed his heart. How can we welcome people in who are outside the church, rather than waiting for them to change before we allow them to become part of our group?
Discussion questions . . .
- What is your favourite computer animated movie, and why?
- Is it possible to be a Christian without going to church or regularly meeting with other Christians?
- Over the Hedge has many challenging things to say about green issues. How can Christians get involved in caring for the environment?
To discuss this further why not leave a message in the discussion forum.
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