I had the opportunity to see Over the Hedge this weekend, and I cannot say enough about the film.

(I know you’re thinking, "What’s a childless 31-cough-something-year-old doing watching a cartoon?" We like what we like, OK?)

Likemany of the modern-day computer-animated cartoons, there are plenty ofmoments the kids won’t get but the adults will (such as a nod to the "Streetcar Named Desire"anguished shout, "Stellaaaaa!" by a plump Persian kitty.) But the movieis also unabashedly silly, sweet and drives home messages aboutforgiveness and loyalty and family. There are also some digs atperfectionist, insensitive homeowners’ association presidents whomeasure their neighbors’ grass length and are more concerned withproperty values than kindness.

The repeated idea that a familyis not necessarily just a mother, father and 2.5 kids was what reallygot to me. In the movie’s case, it was a traditional mom-dad-kidsporcupine family, plus a dad opossum and his daughter, a skunk, aturtle, a hyperactive squirrel and eventually a sly raccoon. But theywere all one unit who took care of each other and loved each otherwithout condition. That’s a great message, I think, to be sending outthrough the celluloid.

(Plus, I adore Steve Carell, and he stole the movie as the hyperactive Hammy.)