OVER THE HEDGE (DVD Review) - 14/10/06

[SPECIAL UPDATE 28/11/06: To open the "In Hibernation" feature on this disc you need to select that bag on the main menu; then using your DVD remote enter the code 695 (Either: Press 6-Enter, 9-Enter, 5-Enter or 6-9-5 Enter) this will unlock 2 extra Special Features - One is the cast's version of Jingle Bells called "Jingle Burps" with Hammy centre stage and another game featuring Hammy in "Hammy's Cookie Grab".]
This lovingly made movie which is rich and vibrant in colours and textures has at last been released on Region 1 (USA) DVD. An entertaining feel good story of Consumerism run rampant as viewed by the animals "over the hedge" from the creators of Shrek (You can tell by the artwork!) and Dreamworks Films. Based on the comic strip we get a well thought out DVD menu disguised as a snack machine dispensing various "Special Features". Opening with a Preview for Dreamworks/Aardman's new animated film "Flushed Away" with the catchline "Plumbing Soon..." we also get a new Hammy cartoon "Hammy's Boomerang Adventure" certainly up there with Twitchy from "Hoodwinked" and Scrat from "Ice Age". Also a small feature on "Bee Movie" due November 2007 on the CGI roster for that year and also a very small advert for "Shrek The Third" due May 2007. Under DWK ("Dreamworks Kids") we get a How To Draw Hammy and Critter 411 features and Games & Activities by accessing the DVD-ROM or playing the two games on the disc "Backyard Obstacle Course" or "Acorn Toss". "Behind The Hedge" covers the Making Of with a Meet The Cast feature and a Verm Tech Infomercial, plus The Tech Of "Over The Hedge" & Filmmaker Commentary with extensive Galleries and further previews. Another special feature is the In Hibernation section where if you go to www.overthehedgemovie.com on November 28th 2006 you can presumably by entering a code from the site; gain access to further special features, in fact "waking them up" from slumber? A quality film with a fantastic cast but the brightest star amongst these is Steve Carell as Hammy The Squirrel in a brilliant performance captured perfectly on screen. Rating: PG. Language: English/French Dolby Digital 5.1. English/Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0. Captions: English. Subtitles: English, French & Spanish. Widescreen Enhanced for 16.9 TVs. Colour - NTSC. Runtime: 1 Hr. 23 Mins. Special Features not rated. 2006/111111005416/11767/ISBN # 1415725675.