minar-33-124372
This is my favourite kids movie! How do I know? My kid is autistic and watches the same movies over and over, and eventhough I've watched like a million times, it's still hilarious!
allyball-63124
So in my last review, Oliver and Company, I defended a movie I felt was underrated. So today, I'm gonna do the opposite: bash something that I feel is overrated. Yep, you heard right, I don't like this movie. One of my big problems with this movie is the story. After their cave is destroyed, the rest of the movie is NOTHING but a roadtrip with occasional stops and the story doing random things with itself. Now, there are movies where I can excuse this kind of story including The Land Before Time and Finding Nemo which are both in my top 30 animated movies. However, the reasons those movies succeeded were because the stories were executed in a heartfelt way and had great characters. Not to mention, incredible animation. However, this movie is the complete opposite of those 2 movies. There is nothing heartfelt about this movie because I don't like any of the characters or care about any of their problems. Eeb isn't given enough time to be a character and all we know is that she wants more like every other 90's Disney princess ever! However, it worked in those movies because they let us know who these characters are, making us feel for them. Eeb has no personality other than being a rebellious, annoying teenager. Also, Eeb is introduced as the main character in the first act but then it suddenly switches to the father, Grug's, story. You know what? I actually hate him. He is annoying and ridiculously stupid. He's also the most overprotective and close-minded piece of crap I've ever had the misfortune of knowing. As for the other characters, I don't remember their names and I don't care. This is definitely Dreamworks second worst movie beaten out only by Shark Tale.
Python Hyena
The Croods (2013): Dir: Kirk DeMicco, Chris Sanders / Voices: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman: Prehistoric animation about one of the original families. The head of the cave is Grug and he is strong and constantly concerned about the safety of his family. His daughter Eep is adventurous and disregards her father's paranoia. Others include the wife, son, baby, and granny. Eventually Guy enters the picture when Eep sneaks out of the cave and marvels at his creation of fire. Guy warns them about the end of the earth and when an earthquake destroys their cave they are off to find new refuge. Not much of a plot and the structure is one simplistic encounter after another. The saving grace is a climax that presents Grug in a position where he must think on the spot and delivers on a brilliant plot solution. Directors Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders are backed with a lot of corny story elements but ultimately it is the animated presentation that scores the highest marks. Many of the characters are flat but Nicolas Cage is amusing voicing Grug who competes with Guy for his family's affection and trust. Emma Stone voices the ambitious and curios Eep who has her father's strength. Ryan Reynolds voices Guy whose resourceful keen senses solve much yet create tension with Grug. Other roles are not as well developed including a granny who has more energy than she should have at her prehistoric age. The animation is the highlight and the theme is family and the willingness to cut ties and trust those we care for to make beneficial choices. Score: 6 ½ / 10
Michael O'Keefe
I was talked into watching this; and glad I did. This Dreamworks animated feature is co-directed by Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders. Both also lay claim to the screenplay. Fantastic cinematography and interesting story. Plus likable characters. Eep(Emma Stone)is an energetic girl, who likes to stray a bit from the cave. She meets a strange boy named Guy(Ryan Reynolds)and his pet sloth called Belt(Sanders). Guy is imaginative and has what it takes to be a future inventor, or even discoverer. Eep's father is Grug(Nicolas Cage), and as any well respected caveman, he worries when his daughter getting too far from the cave. He finds Eep and on the way home an earthquake makes shambles of their cave.Grug gathers the family, wife Ugga(Catherine Keener), son Thunk(Clark Duke), baby daughter Sandy(Randy Thom) and then there is ferocious Gran(Cloris Leachman)...and the journey begins to search for a new cave. Guy and his pet join the family in the trek across what actually is a brand new world to all. This fantastic new world is full of strange creatures, dangers and wonders. There is a brand new life on the horizon.This is a family friendly movie, but be cautioned that there is some situations that may prove to be too scary for the youngest of viewers. You can count on 98 minutes of adventure, escape and enjoyment.
AD
