“The Croods” (2013)

The Croods

Grade: B+

I was thoroughly surprised by the amount of humor and heartfelt humanity in The Croods, an animated film about a dysfunctional family of cavemen. It made me laugh and it almost made me cry, which is why the movie holds up on repeated viewings. A few more notes on The Croods:

Directing:

Co-directed by Chris Sanders, a production designer who made his bones working on Disney classics like The Lion King and Mulan before going on to helm Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon, and Kirk DeMicco, who…er…helmed Space Chimps, the animation for The Croods is a dazzling psychedelic wonderland filled with bright colors. But don’t expect any historical accuracy — Sanders and DeMicco’s portrayal of the Pliocene features hybrid fish-birds and flying turtles. Nevertheless, the visuals are a vivid delight.

Acting:

The Croods has an all-star voice cast that includes Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Cloris Leachman, Clark Duke and Catherine Keener. Seriously, that’s a murderer’s row in any film, animation or otherwise. Everyone does such a terrific job that you forget about the A-list celebrities altogether. In particular, Cage delivers one of his greatest late-career performances in recent memory as Grug, the dimwitted yet well-meaning patriarchal caveman. He’s perfectly suited for voice acting (and not because he somewhat resembles the caveman he’s playing).

Writing:

If you’re looking for a history lesson about life in Pangaea, then The Croods is not for you. But if you’re looking for a coming-of-age comedy that the whole family can enjoy, one that includes plenty of laughs and valuable life lessons, then The Croods is exactly what you need. The storyline is predictable, but the point is the journey not the destination.

Music:

The music by composer Alan Silvestri is somewhat forgettable but that’s okay: don’t want to overshadow that all-star voice cast, that’s for certain.

Ending (SPOILERS):

I’m glad that The Croods opts for a Grug-centric climax, as he’s the heart and soul of this movie. Even though the rest of the ensemble is left out of the final 10 minutes, the film is all the better for it (he’s the only one who undergoes any growth anyway).

“Never not be afraid.” – Grug Crood

Why The Croods gets a B+:

Vivid animation plus hilarious dialogue plus talented voice actors are all elements that overcome the predictable storyline.

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