Over the Hedge 2006

In a desolate picnic area in Indiana, a clever raccoon named RJ attempts an audacious heist to steal food from a slumbering bear called Vincent after his initial attempt at raiding a vending machine fails miserably. Unfortunately, RJ’s plan falls apart when Vincent awakens, incited by the noise, and RJ’s hard-earned loot is reduced to nothing but a mess of wrecked goods. With the threat of severe retribution hanging over him, RJ is forced to think quickly and proposes to replenish Vincent’s food supply before the upcoming full moon, which is only a week away. Vincent, albeit reluctantly, accepts RJ’s proposition, warning him that failure will lead to dire consequences.

As spring arrives, a group of woodland creatures, spearheaded by a wise turtle named Verne, emerges from hibernation to find their beautiful forest transformed into a sprawling residential area, with the only remaining green space separated by a high hedge. Taking advantage of this confusion, RJ makes his entrance, enticing Verne and his family to scavenge from the new human inhabitants for food. Despite Verne’s skeptical outlook, the other animals become convinced and join RJ in their culinary crimes, totally unaware that RJ’s ulterior motive is to gather food for Vincent.

Meanwhile, the formidable Gladys Sharp, the president of the local Homeowners Association, becomes aware of the animal invasion and hires exterminator Dwayne LaFontant to tackle the issue. RJ desperately tries to keep Verne and the family from returning the stolen food, fearing this would bring them to the exterminator’s attention. Amid a chaotic chase with an overly excited Rottweiler named Nugent, the stash of food is inadvertently lost. RJ, in a fit of denial, shifts the blame onto Verne, leading to the family’s growing discontent and eventual split from Verne, who struggles to keep everyone together in the face of mounting difficulties.

As night falls and the full moon illuminates the sky, RJ witnesses Dwayne’s covert operations in Gladys’ yard, devising a complicated series of traps, including the notorious Depelter Turbo, which is illegal due to its hazardous nature. Meanwhile, Verne and the other animals decide to reconcile with RJ, and their bond deepens as they navigate the challenges ahead.

RJ’s curiosity gets the best of him when he discovers a hidden stash of food in Gladys’ house, prompting a clever but risky raid. Hammy, their clever squirrel friend, manages to disarm the Depelter Turbo while Stella, a charming skunk, disguises herself as a cat to sneak in. They manage to accumulate another substantial cache of provisions, yet RJ’s obsession with securing a particular snack for Vincent could jeopardize their collective efforts.

In a moment of weakness, RJ confesses his original intentions just as Gladys emerges, leading to chaos when Dwayne captures Verne and the other animals. Attempting to make amends, RJ braves the odds to deliver food to Vincent, only to see Dwayne’s van looming nearby. He makes a desperate move to rescue his friends by orchestrating a car crash that incapacitates their pursuer.

The repercussions of RJ’s decisions soon cascade: an infuriated Vincent retaliates, causing RJ to push a cart into Gladys’ home. As Verne regroups with the rest of the gang, they find themselves relentlessly pursued by Vincent, Gladys, and Dwayne.

Fortunately, Hammy, energized by an energy drink, reactivates the Depelter Turbo, ensnaring their adversaries. With cleverness and teamwork, RJ uses Verne’s shell as protection, outsmarting Vincent and sending him tumbling over the hedge in a quest for snacks. In the aftermath, Gladys faces the consequences of her illegal traps, and Vincent finds himself taken by animal control.

In the end, RJ reunites with his woodland friends, including Tiger, who is still enamored with Stella, despite the latter’s true nature. As Verne frets about their winter survival, Hammy reveals an unexpectedly plentiful stash of nuts from last year, securing their provisions for the challenging months to come.