Review of The Croods (2013) by Niloo R — 14 Feb 2014

A-List actors and a simple plot bring a story about a neanderthal family in search of a new home when the coming apocalypse destroys their current one. One funny element is how well the actors' own mannerisms come through in the animation.

The story is co-piloted by Nicolas Cage's ultra cautious and conservative father and Emma Stone's exact opposite daughter. The father doesn't want a life outside the cave, everything is dangerous, especially the deadly "NEW".

Anything that is NEW is bad. That is the moral of the story until, through a series of adventures and mishaps and with the guidance of Reynolds' character, Guy, the family comes to embrace the unknown and the new.

I have to reemphasize that this is fun for kids but doesn't offer a whole lot else that is "new" or interesting. The visuals can get very colorful and the family is standard issue but fun.

It doesn't rise to new heights, held back by safe studio standards. Still, the movie is enjoyable and though the thematic premise isn't very good without parental guidance, the third act offers memorable moments that speak to a deeper and more primal theme.