Animal Animation
MOTW: Over the Hedge
Dreamworks' latest CGI animation is "Over The Hedge", which you've probably seen advertised around the place. With the exception of the Shrek movies, Dreamworks' CGI output has been of fairly average quality, and they, plus all other CG movie creators, are merely playing catchup to Pixar, and being left far far behind.
However, Over The Hedge is an enormous improvement over the crap that was Shark Tale, because I think someone realised that CGI movies can't just survive on CGI, they also need a decent story, and good humour, not just Will Smith acting all jiggy wit' it, which I don't think anyone finds funny.
In Over The Hedge, we follow a small group of woodland creatures who discover that their forest home has become suburbia, but a street-wise Raccoon (Bruce Willis) helps them get their food from their new 'neighbours'.
You've probably seen some funny stuff in the trailers. And as you'd guess, that'd be the funniest stuff in the movie. And you'd be wrong.
Most of the jokes in the first 2/3 of the film that have laugh-out-loud factor are in the trailers, sure, but that final third of the movie just tops the rest, and is full of incredibly funny and outlandish situations. What could have been merely a bland attempt at a CGI movie populated with big name stars actually has some merit because of the fantastic climax.
As you can probably tell - the ending I liked, but I think the first half to two-thirds could have done with a bit more humour. The plot is simplistic but not too cliche or blaze, and although I would have liked more layers of humour with more for adults (as per Shrek) this film will probably be a big hit with young kids, because it's something they can have a huge laugh at.
All in all, very enjoyable. Not quite up to Pixar standards, but certainly near the top of other CGI offerings from non-Pixar studios.
7.5/10
Dreamworks' latest CGI animation is "Over The Hedge", which you've probably seen advertised around the place. With the exception of the Shrek movies, Dreamworks' CGI output has been of fairly average quality, and they, plus all other CG movie creators, are merely playing catchup to Pixar, and being left far far behind.
However, Over The Hedge is an enormous improvement over the crap that was Shark Tale, because I think someone realised that CGI movies can't just survive on CGI, they also need a decent story, and good humour, not just Will Smith acting all jiggy wit' it, which I don't think anyone finds funny.
In Over The Hedge, we follow a small group of woodland creatures who discover that their forest home has become suburbia, but a street-wise Raccoon (Bruce Willis) helps them get their food from their new 'neighbours'.
You've probably seen some funny stuff in the trailers. And as you'd guess, that'd be the funniest stuff in the movie. And you'd be wrong.
Most of the jokes in the first 2/3 of the film that have laugh-out-loud factor are in the trailers, sure, but that final third of the movie just tops the rest, and is full of incredibly funny and outlandish situations. What could have been merely a bland attempt at a CGI movie populated with big name stars actually has some merit because of the fantastic climax.
As you can probably tell - the ending I liked, but I think the first half to two-thirds could have done with a bit more humour. The plot is simplistic but not too cliche or blaze, and although I would have liked more layers of humour with more for adults (as per Shrek) this film will probably be a big hit with young kids, because it's something they can have a huge laugh at.
All in all, very enjoyable. Not quite up to Pixar standards, but certainly near the top of other CGI offerings from non-Pixar studios.
7.5/10