The Croods – Family fun for everyone
Even during prehistoric times, you still have overprotective father’s and rebellious teenagers. The Croods brings you a family of cavemen; Grug (Nicholas Cage) the superstrong father who believes everything outside the cave will kill you, his wife Ugga (Catherine Keener), Not to bright son Thunk (Clark Duke), typical drama queen daughter Eep (Emma Stone), toddler daughter Sandy, and his Mother-in-Law who he wishes would just die already, voiced by Cloris Leachman. Yes Maw-Maw from Raising Hope.
Eep doesn’t like her father’s overprotective nature and one night she follows a light that brings her to another human. The Croods used to have neighbors but so far have been all alone for a while now. When Eep meets Guy (Ryan Reynolds) he’s the opposite of her family, he ventures out at night, doesn’t sleep in a cave, invents things, its also obvious he doesn’t have the same sloping forehead like the Croods do indicating he’s more evolved. When he warns Eep of the impending end of the world, followed by the destruction of her family’s cave, the Croods are about to venture into a new world.
A lot of this movie is typical family life mixed in with fear of the unknown. The early sequence when the family is trying to steal an egg for breakfast and they compete against other animals is hilarious. Any sequence that has “release the baby” is going to get a theater full of laughs. The movie has several funny bits, enough to keep the kids focused and the parents laughing. Its been a while since I’ve seen a family friendly film with that level of comedy to appeal to everyone.
The 3D leaves a lot to be desired. The entire beginning sequence isn’t in 3D at all and there’s so few moments that its a waste of a upcharge. I did the glasses free check several times during the film to be completely underwhelmed.
I still think this movie is a must see for families. Its good for all ages so no worries about bringing the little ones in tow and the story doesn’t really slow down keeping the little ones attention while the jokes keep the parents awake.
My Rating: Matinee but skip 3D
Director: Kirk De Micco, Chris Sanders
Studio: Dreamworks Animation
MPAA Rating: PG
Run Time: 98 minutes
Recommended ages: 5 and up
Images courtesy of 20th Century Fox
Totally agree! My son (3.5yo) did enjoy it, but we could have done without the 3D. He took his glasses off before the movie ended and I later had a migraine that I think was triggered by it. (Can’t recall last movie I saw in 3D.) That all said, my son, DH and I all enjoyed it. A number of laughs. I don’t anticipate any awards but would watch it again – just not in 3D.
Agree! Our family (me, DH and 3.5yo son) went and all enjoyed it. Lots of laughs. But my son had his glasses off before the movie ended (his first ever 3D) and I later had a migraine that I think was triggered it (can’t even recall last time I saw a 3D movie). I don’t expect this movie to win any awards, but it was entertaining and I would watch again. Just not in 3D.