Over theHedge faced tough competition opening on the same weekend as The Da Vinci Code, but families who wanted to attend a movie together and enjoy charming characters and have lots of laughs, Over theHedge was the perfect place to be, and the film earned half of what Code did, which is impressive. 

The following people sat down for an interview to talk about this newest animated film from DreamWorks: Karey Kirkpatrick, the screenwriter for Chicken Little, who makes his directing debut (along with Tim Johnson) on Hedge; producer Bonnie Arnold (Toy Story, Tarzan); and Academy Award-nominated Thomas Haden Church (for Sideways), who plays Dwayne in Hedge. 

Q. Voiceovers seem to be the hottest thing for celebrities to do; with some of their high salaries does it really pay off to go after a known voice?

KIRKPATRICK:  They don’t typically do it for the money. It’s slightly easier than doing a live action movie, and they can come to work in their pajamas. I think a lot of stars do it to flex their muscles, some because they have children.

ARNOLD: From the business side it works because these stars are good at what they do, and I think their name helps. People want to go see it because it’s like a game -- who’s doing what voice.

Q. How do you choose a particular voice?

KIRKPATRICK: The voice has to be right. I had just co-written (with Susannah Grant) the screenplay for Charlotte’s Webb so I was at a session that Thomas was in, and I was always a fan of his, especially after Sideways, so I thought he was perfect for the exterminator. Thomas is an amazing talent, but I don’t think any of us were aware of how extraordinary his improv abilities are. Half the lines Dwayne utters Thomas came up with on the spot.

HADEN CHURCH: Sideways has provided me with many unique opportunities. Charlotte’s Webb came up first because I had worked with that producer a few times. When they sent me the synopsis of Hedge, the smartest thing they did was to send me the animation panel. I loved it. I like the way Dwayne looked; it was a great counterpoint to what I was doing on Spider-Man. Dwayne is a chubby, funny, pompous self-involved guy…but the story is a genuinely sweet, life-affirming story. That’s really what made me want to do it.

Q. There are a lot of characters in this film. How did you handle that challenge?

KIRPATRICK: We created the framework of the characters and worked hard to create a distinctive ensemble, it’s kind of an eclectic non-nuclear family. I think the root of great comedy is an ensemble as we’ve seen in TV series like Cheers and Seinfeld. Thomas had a great ensemble to work with, and I think it’s the secondary characters that are the comedic spice of that, so we set out to create storylines for these guys to follow but when they come on, they make it their own, brining their skills and playing to it. 

Q. Many of our animated movies in the last few years have two tracks, one for adults with one-liners that small kids don’t get, and the excellent animation that will holds the kids attention. Is this a trend that’s going to continue in animated films?

ARNOLD: I think Hedge is a little different. It’s more than a kid’s film. It’s not just gags. The humor comes from the characters, which I’m especially proud of. It works on a couple of different levels, and the thematic material about friendship and family will appeal to different ages.

Q. Many of dialogue lines have specific innuendos about the cultures over consumption. Are these meant to send messages or merely make fun of us in general?

ARNOLD: The film is based on a comic strip and it’s a little bit of a skewed look from the animal’s point of view. We’re in their back yard, so like one person driving this huge car is humor that appealed to us and that’s the basis for the humor in the film.

KIRKPATRICK: Satire is always a better way to make a point, and people are a rich bed of hot material to poke fun at. It’s what makes great standup comedy like Ellen DeGeneres or Jerry Seinfeld. They observe human behavior and point it out, and you’re laughing at yourself. So the people I’m poking fun at in this movie is me.

Q. Karey, can you give us a preview of what Charlotte's Web is going to be like?

KIRKPATRICK: It's a very faithful adaptation. It's live action, except for Charlotte (Julia Roberts) and Templeton (Steve Buscemi) who are full CG creations. Thomas is a corn-addicted crow named Brooks who steals the movie. Buscemi is very funny. Dakota Fanning (Fern) is fantastic. John Cleese (Samuel) is priceless. Fans of the book will be pleased to see it as a live adaptation. 

HADEN CHURCH: It's a four-hankie movie.  

Over the Hedge is in theaters now; Charlotte's Webb opens in December. 

(Read Diana Saenger’s reviews of classic films at http://classicfilm.about.com.)