Croodly Entertaining

To be honest there's not much to DreamWorks Animation's The Croods. The simple premise of a scared family of cavemen braving a world of uncertainty they are ill-prepared for does, however, offer some laughs along the way.

The Croods consist of the curious and precocious teenager Eep (Emma Stone), her more obedient and dimwitted brother Thunk (Clark Duke), her feisty grandmother Gran (Cloris Leachman), her terror of a baby sister, and her parents Grug (Nicolas Cage) and Ugga (Catherine Keener). All of Eep's life Grug has kept the family safe by hiding in their cave from anything new which could be dangerous, only allowing The Croods into the light to gather food when necessary. Even Grug's bedtime stories underline his philosophy for his family's need to be obedient, cautious, and fearful every day of their lives to stay alive.

After their cave is destroyed due to forces beyond the cavemen's understanding the family has no choice but to travel along with Eep's new friend Guy (Ryan Reynolds), and his dangerous ideas, on a quest to somewhere new and, to Grug's utter horror, exciting. The movie is also populated with a variety of creatures including Thunk's crocodile-like dog he calls Douglas (who provides the movie's biggest laugh), Guy's pet sloth Belt (Chris Sanders), and a saber-tooth cat that hunts the family for most of the story (which culminates in another of the movie's best jokes).

The Croods doesn't compare to Disney or Pixar's best, but the film about walking animated cliches isn't really trying to be. At its best the movie is visually entertaining, occasionally funny (such as Grug's constant disappointment that his mother-in-law has survived every single life-threatening situation), and even a bit charming thanks in large part to Cage's performance, a long list of gags, and the visual splendor of the film's second-half. The movie also shows unexpected warmth and heart during its final act as the caveman's love for his family finally bests his conservative nature.

The movie is available on DVD, a two-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack (with Digital Copy), and a three-disc Deluxe Edition which includes the movie in 3D. Each version is also available in a toy version box set that comes with a Belt plush. Featurettes include a look at the animals in the film, a history of Belt, an examination of the art and design of the film, deleted scenes, and the film's trailer.

[Dreamworks Animation, DVD $29.98 / Blu-ray $38.99 / 3D Blu-ray $48.99]