The Croods, an animated film about prehistoric cave dwellers, features the voice talents of Nicholas Cage, Emma Stone and Ryan Reynolds. Courtesy Dreamworks Animation

Film review: The Croods

Stephen Applebaum

The Croods
Director:
Kirk De Micco, Chris Sanders
Starring:
Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds
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Slightly beneath the Flintstones evolutionarily, the Croods are prehistoric cave dwellers who survive by hiding. For the teenager Eep (Stone), it is a suffocating existence; she longs to shake off her over-protective father Grug’s (Cage) control. Salvation arrives in the shape of Guy (Reynolds), a ripped young hunk who is developmentally superior. Grug tries to resist his progressive ways, but with the world as they know it about to end, change is inevitable. Featuring spectacular environments and bizarre creatures that young kids will adore, The Croods is a fast-paced delight. Cage brings humour to his vocals, while the film’s numerous action set pieces have the hyper-kinetic zip and nuttiness of a Chuck Jones or Tex Avery cartoon. Forget Pixar’s sophistication, sometimes simple pleasures are all you need.