Over the Hedge

Over the Hedge is a 2006 American animated heist comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and based on the comic strip by Michael Fry and T. Lewis. The film was directed by Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick and written by Len Blum, Lorne Cameron, David Hoselton and Kirkpatrick, and features the voices of Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Steve Carell, William Shatner, Wanda Sykes and Nick Nolte. Set in Indiana, the plot follows RJ, a raccoon who is forced to deliver food to a bear named Vincent after accidentally destroying his stockpile of food, whereupon he manipulates a family of woodland animals who have recently awakened from hibernation into helping him steal food in order to speed up the process.

Over the Hedge was theatrically released in the United States on May 19, 2006 by Paramount Pictures. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success, grossing $339.8 million worldwide on an $80 million budget.

In a deserted picnic area in Chesterton, Indiana, unable to find food for himself, a raccoon named RJ tries stealing a stockpile from a hibernating bear named Vincent. The plan backfires when Vincent is woken up by the commotion and the food is destroyed. Vincent almost kills RJ, who offers to replace his food by the time the full moon approaches, which is in one week's time. Vincent threatens to kill him if he fails.

The next morning, a family of woodland animals led by a turtle named Verne awaken from hibernation on the first day of spring and discover that most of the forest they lived in has been turned into a housing development that is separated from the little forest remaining by a giant hedge. RJ introduces himself to the group and explains that they can have better food by scavenging off the humans and offers to spend the next 274 days left until winter starts. Despite Verne's concerns, RJ convinces the other animals to steal and stockpile food and other human stuff, unaware of his true intentions of delivering the stash to Vincent, paying off his debt. Gladys Sharp, the neighborhood Home Owners Association president, notices the animal problem and hires exterminator Dwayne LaFontant. While RJ tries to stop a worried Verne from returning the pile of food in order to avoid Dwayne, the food is destroyed following a chase by an excited Rottweiler named Nugent. RJ blames Verne for the destruction while Verne tries to convince his family not to follow RJ for their own safety; the family shuns him in favor of RJ after the former accidentally insults them.

That night RJ sees Dwayne rig animal traps, including an illegal contraband device called the Depelter Turbo, in Gladys' yard. Verne reconciles with RJ and the other animals, and RJ convinces everyone to invade Gladys' home and steal her massive stockpile of food. The squirrel Hammy disables the Depelter Turbo while the striped skunk Stella steals Gladys' Persian cat Tiger's collar, which enables entry into the house. The animals stockpile another wagon full of food, but before leaving, RJ sees a can of Spuddies potato chips and becomes determined to get it per Vincent's request. RJ flees with the food while Verne and the other animals are captured by Dwayne, who takes them away in his truck.

While delivering the food to Vincent, RJ sees Dwayne's truck driving past. In an attempt to free the animals, he causes the wagon to crash into Dwayne's van, which knocks him unconscious. This prompts an enraged Vincent to attack RJ and the other animals while the porcupine triplets drive the truck back to the neighborhood. Verne convinces them to forgive RJ during the commotion. The animals crash the truck into Gladys' home and return to the hedge, only to be attacked by Vincent, Gladys, and Dwayne. Hammy, fueled by an energy drink, reactivates the Depelter Turbo while RJ and Verne trick Vincent into leaping over the hedge, resulting in him, Gladys, and Dwayne being caught in the Depelter Turbo. The local animal control service ships Vincent to the Rocky Mountains, Gladys and Dwayne are arrested for possessing the Depelter Turbo and resisting arrest, and Dwayne's attempt to escape arrest is thwarted by Nugent. RJ rejoins the woodland creatures permanently alongside Tiger, who had fallen in love with Stella. After Verne thinks they have wasted a whole week without gathering food for the winter, Hammy reveals that he has found the nuts he had stored for the previous winter, replenishing the animals' food supply.

In a post-credits scene, RJ is seen demonstrating to his new family how to operate the vending machine (the same one he was at earlier in the film) into delivering all products, but ends up blocking the access door, much to his dismay.

Two minor human characters named Lunch Table Larry and BBQ Barry who appear during the dog chase scene, were voiced by Lee Bienstock and Sean Yazbeck, two participants on The Apprentice 5 as part of a reward for winning a task.