Starring: Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Nicolas Cage
The Croods are a family of cave people, headed by the dad of
the family, Grug (Cage). Cautious and tentative from years of seeing his
neighbours die thanks to the perils of nature, Grug has taught his family to
fear the outdoors and anything new; a lesson that doesn’t sit too well with his
adventurous daughter, Eep (Stone), especially when she meets outsider, Guy
(Reynolds). When the Croods’ cave is destroyed, they have no choice but to
travel with Guy into the great unknown.
The Croods is a decent film, but it certainly isn’t an
original one, with a plot that can basically be summarised as The Flintstones
meet Finding Nemo (2003) and, as per usual, Dreamworks makes a fine effort but
doesn’t quite topple its rival, Pixar, with the lack of originality being the
central problem. However, the quality of people involved in this production is
somewhat more impressive. Based on a story partly devised by John Cleese (yes,
he of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame), the film has a good central cast
with Emma Stone making an energetic lead and Nicolas Cage also delivering a
strong performance (with trademark goofy freakout included) and a performace by
the should-be-treasured, Cloris Leachman. The film also boasts some sumptuous
visuals, let down a little by the cluttered 3D effects. Meanwhile, even though
some the script has some problems with logic and other problems (a running gag
where Grug wishes for his mother-in-law to die is played a little too harshly)
but Alan Silvestri’s score is full of fun. The Croods isn’t original, but it’s
entertaining and ultimately, in my book at least, that matters more.
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