RJ, a raccoon, owes a bear some food. He talks a group of animals into helping him steal food from 'Over The Hedge' in a local housing development.

"OVER THE HEDGE? OVER THE HEDGE? THROUGH THE HEDGE OR UNDER THE HEDGE, MAYBE, BUT NEVER OVER THE HEDGE!!! Sorry am I shouting?"

"CJ from the West Wing has never sounded more angry. A delight from start to screamy finish!"

"Is this the furriest role Bruce Willis has ever played? Well it's either this or Die Hard."

"I just love the way Americans say Squirrel."

"Lovely hair and foliage and feathers and porcupine pines throughout. A digital animators dream."

"Not since Pepe Le Pew has there been such a delightful skunk. Wanda Sykes, you stunk good girl."

"My, what a growly voice Nick Nolte has these days (he plays the bear). I do hope he doesn't phone me up, I would have to run away!"

RJ, the raccoon, sees the error of his ways and decides to help rescue his friends...

A rich universe of characterial and leafial greenness and explody yellows, and that cheesey powdery stuff they put on cheesy Tortilla chips.

The movie has that lovely homely familiarity of Shrek's forest, coupled with harsher near Toy Story lines and lighting. One for all the family and technical drawerers alike.

The distinctive singy-songedness is provided by Ben Folds who niftily embraces the feelgoodness of the situation, both wistful and nostalgic and hopeful and warm. Well pianised on the piano, too!

If there is one small quibble, one finds it hard to note even once when our gang of well animated chums actually does go over the hedge. Through it yes. Under it absolutely, but over it? Never.

Gary Shandling as Verne: "My head says listen to my tail, my tail says listen to my head and I just end up with an upset stomach."

Bruce Willis as RJ: "Here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here..."

A good state of the art CGI character movie.