THE CROODS

2013, DreamWorks Animation

Animated

Rating: G

Approx. 90 mins.

THE STORY:

The Croods are a family of cave people who have managed to survive by spending much of their lives hidden away in a cave living according to the credos of their patriarch, Grug (Nicholas Cage): “Anything new is bad,” and “Always be afraid.”

This is a particularly hard pill for his young adult daughter, Eep (Emma Stone), to swallow. One night, her curiosity about the world beyond their cave leads her to Guy (Ryan Reynolds), a more advanced homo sapiens. Guy warns the Croods of an impending environmental cataclysm, and ends up leading them toward higher ground where they have a chance of surviving. Along the way, he introduces them to innovations such as fire, shoes and pets. Guy’s deftness—and his requited fondness for Eep—threatens Grug, but in the end he learns to let go of fear and to evolve.

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• Fat
• Sucky

VIOLENCE:

• Punching, hitting, falling

TEACHING POINTS:

• Living scared is not living
• Love can be shown through words or through actions

THE UPSHOT:

Technically, this film is stellar. This is the highest quality animation I have seen in a long time. Stunning in the degree to which it looks like live action at times. The voices are perfectly cast and executed—when was the last time you heard the word ‘perfect’ applied to Nick Cage?

The story is well paced, the dialogue is snappy and there is humour enough for everyone. I laughed at the running mother-in-law joke, while my 4 year-old laughed at everything else. The messages about family bonds and about not fearing the unknown are positive and well delivered.      

Another thing I really appreciated about this film was the fact that the lead female character had an incredibly strong, healthy body instead of the unrealistic classic Disney silhouette. She endears herself to Guy not by being a beautiful damsel in distress, but by displaying how brave and capable she is, and by proving that she can take care of herself.

Fun for all.

5/5