Movie Description
A ragtag group of forest critters awakes from hibernation to find that their forest has been turned into a suburban housing development in this animated film co-directed by Tim Johnson (ANTZ) and first-timer Karey Kirkpatrick, and based on a comic strip by Michael Fry and T Lewis. Paternal turtle Verne (Gary Shandling) and his makeshift family--spunky skunk Stella (Wanda Sykes), speedy squirrel Hammy (Steve Carrell), dramatic father opossum Ozzie (William Shatner), and his perpetually embarrassed daughter Heather (Avril Lavigne)--are ready to start the annual forage for food when they discover a giant hedge where their forest used to be. Luckily, charming raccoon RJ (Bruce Willis) shows up just in time to teach them about humans and life on the other side of the hedge, and how much food there is to be had.
But what Verne and his pals don't know is that RJ's intentions are not necessarily honorable: this loner needs the food they forage to pay back a large debt to Vincent, a very large, angry bear (Nick Nolte). To make matters more difficult, on the other side of the hedge is Gladys (Allison Janney), the president of the neighborhood homeowner's association, who doesn't take kindly to wild animals. When she calls in the Verminator, Dwayne (Thomas Haden Church), it's all-out war as the animals infiltrate the world of humans. Will the loving forest family emerge victorious, or will the spoils of suburbia run them out of the small patch of land they have left? And will RJ stick by his new family, or just keep looking out for himself? Songs by musician Ben Folds reflect the film's take on the perils of suburbanization without being too preachy.
IN THEATERS MAY 9, 2006
This animated children's film humorously deals with suburbia encroaching on nature, in the form of a mysterious hedge that pops up in the midst of the formerly wild wilds. Skunks, raccoons, possums, and other fauna are forced to cope in a variety of ways. Featuring the voices of Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Steve Carell, William Shatner, and others.
| Credits | | Cast: | Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Steve Carell, Thomas Haden Church, William Shatner |
| Details | | Edition: | Full Frame; Checkpoint |
Editorial Reviews
3 star out of 5 -- "With so many likeable, imitable characters playing into every forest creature cliché you could think of, kids will have no trouble picking their favorites and reciting their lines....Fun and exciting to watch."
Box Office - Matt Caracappa (06/01/2006)
"The vividly animated film -- based on a comic strip by Michael Fry and T. Lewis -- has an appealing balance of comic bits and exhilarating action sequences..."
USA Today - Claudia Puig (05/26/2006)
4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he hyper-real compu-visuals are gorgeous....Any 'tooner stands or falls on its characters, and here they're an endearing, cheering bunch, larnyxed with aplomb."
Total Film - Matthew Leyland (06/01/2006)
"[T]he lively, solid storytelling should please viewers who hanker for old-fashioned family or even children's fare."
Sight and Sound - Andrew Osmond (08/01/2006)
3 stars out of 4 -- "[Hammy is] one of the funniest new stars out there and the best reason to watch this movie."
Premiere - Rachel Clarke (12/01/2006)
| See an error? Submit a change request |
All rights reserved.
Great animated film!!!
) 
Thank you for voting. If your vote meets our 
Funny Story with good lesson
