Blueghost
Nothing deep here. Just a "period" piece of sorts regarding men and woman of zillions of years ago. Every popular cliché in pop culture that you can think of about "caveman" and dinosaurs is here in this film, and even a few new ones.It's a simple comedy that's mostly clean, but has a couple of toilet gags and sex jokes in it (shown, not told). Ringo Starr, Shelly Long, Quaid, Bach, Matusak and the Cheetos guy slap leather, hurl rocks, confront prehistoric beasts, invent "technology" and learn a lesson in the end about what it means to be "normal" and accepted.On that level, I guess it is kind of deep stuff, but otherwise it's just good film making. And I say that not because the shots are artistic, but because the film's narrative is one that is easily comprehended to move the story forward and make the jokes stand out more.I am of course looking at this film with rose-colored glasses because I saw it when I was younger. And though it's dated by virtue of its age, I think it still holds up. It was more aimed at the young adults of the 1980s, and not really young kids nor older mature audiences who like their films with a bit more sophistication.Either way, give it a shot and enjoy.
WakenPayne
I really don't know why I watched this movie but the result is a bizarre and strange product that I can't help but scratch my head at. The plot is that Ringo-caveman has no chance with a cave woman who's with the leader of the tribe. One thing leads to another and Ringo is banished but he finds other people to set up his own tribe, this time favoring intelligence over brute strength. However he is still after the cave woman and hijinx ensues as the tribes rival and a god-awful love triangle happens. The movie never really cracks a laugh. The humour is rather bizarre with stuff like animals sounding like other animals, getting dinosaurs high and other such things but also has toilet humour as well such as lighting farts and stepping in crap. The dialogue is also a strange concoction, mainly because the dialogue is a whole other language with no subtitles. This is best put as a bizarre transfix with the hope in mind that it actually gets funny and it never does.
garrigusm
This movie is great. People who say "this movie is mindless fun" are missing the depth that this simple movie has. There is a lot of thought given to this charming movie. I found no pointless side plots or scenes that are out of place with character motivations. The story is simple - boy likes girl who is already with a bigger guy. Boy tries to take her from the bigger guy and hijinks ensue. The greatness of this movie is it's characters and worldbuilding in this simple setup. Despite not being in English (they speak "Caveman"), the dialogue is consistent and the story is easy to follow. Cavemen and women have individual motivations and personalities. For example, Tonda the King of the Cavemen is a dim bully and despite being the strongest he makes his men do the work. He takes what he wants but has problems when it comes to thinking things through and using simple tools. Another caveman is the storyteller when things need to be explained to the tribe he's the one to do it. The movie's juvenile gags are classic and flow out of these characters. It's not heady stuff but I'd definitely describe the movie as funny. Is this a family movie? I'd say so, I've watched this movie with the whole family a few times and there is something for everyone in it. There are adult situations but they are played from an innocent point of view. I'd highly recommend this movie, at the time of this review the rating was 5 point something and that is way too low for this classic, I give it 8 stars.
Python Hyena
Caveman (1981): Dir: Carl Gottleib / Cast: Ringo Starr, Barbara Bach, Dennis Quaid, Shelley Long, John Matuszak: Inventive comedy set in those prehistoric days of yesteryear. It regards the rise of man through his sense of learning. Ringo Starr plays Atouk who is banished from his tribe due to an uncontrolled lust for Lana, chief Tonda's woman. He forms his own tribe and they discover fire, music, cooking, and learn to hunt, which leads to the biggest egg yoke in history. Intriguing concept is detailed within a series of creative subplots that climax with both tribes colliding. Dinosaur jokes are hilarious complete with a nearby ice age. Director Carl Gottleib is inventive and backed with hilarious dinosaurs whom Atouk must outwit. Starr is very funny as a nobody booted from his tribe only to form another to a higher degree of sophistication. The only drawback is the simplistic use of violence to solve the plot. Barbara Bach as Lana represents society's fantasy of women but how she is finally dealt with is perhaps the film's dirtiest sight joke. Dennis Quaid plays Lar, Atouk's best friend whom experiences the nearby ice age. Shelley Long as Tarla is the woman destine for Atouk and she even goes so far as to confront Tonda regarding Lana's whereabouts. John Matuszak provides the massive brute frame of Tonda who cannot throw a rock and let go of it. Well intentioned comedy about the pains of prehistoric life. Score: 8 / 10
AD
