OVER THE HEDGE (2006)

OVER THE HEDGE is an animated film from 2006 in which a group of animals come out of hibernation to find a new housing development next to their forest home. It was originally rated U for both cinema and DVD release in 2006. This cinema re-release is also rated U with mild slapstick violence.

There are action sequences including a tortoise character in dangerous situations in the human environment, dodging objects falling from a barbecue, including knives, being caught in a game of street hockey where he is used as a ball, being used as a dog's chew toy, having to dodge the blades of a lawn mower and being blown into the sky by a gas barbecue. All of which he survives without harm. In other scenes the animals are threatened by humans, including an exterminator who sets up various traps to catch and kill them, and a possum character who appears to have been hit by a car. But it is quickly revealed that the possum is only playing dead. In one scene some animals are caught and put in cages, with younger characters afraid that they might die. But the animals are soon rescued in an extended chase sequence.

OVER THE HEDGE contains some mild toilet humour, including a skunk character whose scent resembles flatulence, a young character who says he can burp his "A, B, Cs" and begins to demonstrate this, and a character who advises his fellow animals to "just lie down, roll over and give your privates a good licking" if they encounter humans.

Mild language includes use of 'butt'.

U for stands for Universal, which means that we think the film is suitable for audiences aged four or older.