"The Croods" (2013) | Sam Gall Movie Review Issue #111 Gem Mint 10.0
“The Croods“ (2013)
Director: Kirk DeMicco, Chris Sanders
Writer: Kirk DeMicco, Chris Sanders, John Cleese
Starring: Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Nicolas Cage, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, Clark Duke
Rated: PG for some scary action
Runtime: 1h 38min
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Family
Country: United States
Language: English
"After their cave is destroyed, a caveman family must trek through an unfamiliar fantastical world with the help of an inventive boy."
You might like this if you like: Animation, Cavemen, Adventure, Comedies, Fantasy, Family Movies, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Nicolas Cage, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, Clark Duke
"The Croods" (2013)
I actually first heard about this movie from the ads for the sequel; "The Croods: A New Age" (2020). I didn't pay much attention or tune in as I knew I wanted to catch up and watch the first one and make it a double feature. I was working at Target Electronics at the time and felt I needed to be in the loop of things (to be fair, I've felt that way all my life anyways) and watch it in time for the release of the 2nd which, I believe, was only a day or two away. Gave me just enough time to set up for a double feature.
I went in completely cold for this movie, other than seeing some images from the ads of the sequel, I only knew it was about 'cavemen' and that it was animated. Apparently that was enough of a sell for me. I have no history of loving 'cavemen' anything so I'm not sure how this adds up. Didn’t know ANY actors, who did it.. I had actually gotten through, I think the entire film before I realized who some of the actors were and then when the credits rolled I just nearly sh** my pants.
But what I love about watching it that way, was that it really proved I love those characters and story for what it was, I genuinely thought it was some unknown animated feature that somehow got a sequel, I guess I was just out of touch or something when the first one came out.
Ryan Reynolds (left) & Emma Stone (right) in "The Croods" (2013)
I fell in love with the world they created! It was so much fun and vibrant! As a dinosaur fan, it was the perfect animated adventure I needed. It scratched that dinosaur itch, yet gave me something I’d never really seen before. What a great spin on that prehistoric era! I got so swept up in the world and their entire story. I love that I didn’t need any star power to fuel that love I had for the movie. It just felt so pure. Pure love for those characters and story. It felt like I fell in love with what they had started out on the page more. I could tell they had great acting talent, I just didn’t know I knew those actors so well.
So when the credits rolled, it just hit me so hard. I got to see it with a whole new pair of eyes when I watched it again with my fiancé, putting a familiar face to those voices. To be fair, I think I figured out it was Nicolas Cage maybe halfway through but just didn’t know I believed it haha. Seemed too good to be true. And realizing, yeah it was a pretty big budget, Dreamworks production, great cast, made me see, okay, maybe it is getting the appreciation it deserves.
Nicolas Cage (left) & Ryan Reynolds (right) in "The Croods" (2013)
It had been awhile since I had seen an animated movie and “The Croods” (2013) just felt like a treat to dive back into. It was an instant classic for me, one I’d share with my kids, I don’t know it just feels like the perfect animated family movie. Something everyone can enjoy and relate to. Takes us back to the basics of humanity in some ways. Being that it’s. A prehistoric era film, but it just adds to the humanity aspect of it. Forces us to come back to the basics. As writers those were their limitations, the mindset they had to get into. “How can we tell a story with these parameters?” was just so fun to me and they added their own spin to it of course. A fantasy element, to give it some more color and vibrance. To be fair, the eras they’re working with, it does go from a bit plain to more vibrant.
I also just loved the exact time they chose to tell their story; even though it’s a bit loose with its history, the changing of an era and how it would effect a group of cavemen was fascinating to me. And lives up to its build I think. Just raised the stakes being that the story took place when an era was changing and for those characters to adapt. I loved it.
"The Croods" (2013)
I just found it to be such a fun, clever, beautiful, hilarious and exciting story about family, romance, adventure, and coming out of your comfort zone. Made me laugh, cry and just feel good inside! What an incredible cast.. everyone did so well! Ryan Reynolds.. I mean I can’t NOT hear ‘Deadpool’ and that just adds to the experience, Emma Stone just kills it as always, and my god, Nicolas Cage was outstanding. He’s so into his character and gives him so much life. Just the fact that I got Nicolas Cage and Ryan Reynolds in the same movie is amazing. Catherine Keener, Clark Duke and of course, Cloris Leachman, RIP. Brilliant, fun, funny and sweet film. Check it out if you haven’t already!
Written by Sam Gall on June 10, 2021
CGC Grading: Gem Mint 10.0
"A fun glimpse into father-daughter relationships and the power of family to persevere even when the fear of change threatens its very existence." - Wesley Lovell, Cinema Sight
"The Croods is a pleasant surprise that features imaginative production design, a funny story, and excellent voice acting by Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, and Nicolas Cage." - Scott Chitwood, ComingSoon.net
"The Croods is great fun and a pleasant diversion for the whole animation loving family." - Leslie Combemale, Cinema Siren
"[The Croods] is an interesting mix of a clever (if familiar) idea, genuinely funny moments, great animation and slapstick humour, often featuring actual sticks." - Francesca Rudkin, New Zealand Herald
"The first act may be a little slow, but once this animated comedy gets rolling, it's a rollicking good family movie with upbeat messages and a happy ending-with enough eye-popping peril to interest even the most jaded of your teen video gameplayers." - James Plath, Family Home Theater
"Set four million years in the past, The Croods nonetheless feels like a step-forward for the usually pop-culture cribbing DreamWorks' studio. More like this, please." - Simon Miraudo, Quickflix
"'The Croods' provides an extremely hopeful message of surviving into the future. Little ones won't get it intellectually, but will on a visceral level, while being thoroughly entertained by all manner of fun prehistoric flora and fauna." - Mark Jackson, Epoch Times
Official Trailer:
Behind the Scenes:
Available on various VOD platforms
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