The Croods need a new place to live. So, the first prehistoric family sets off into the world in search of a safer place to call home. When they discover an idyllic walled-in paradise that meets all their needs, they think their problems are solved … except for one thing. Another family already lives there: the Bettermans.

The Bettermans (emphasis on the “better”)—with their elaborate tree house, amazing inventions and irrigated acres of fresh produce—are a couple of steps above the Croods on the evolutionary ladder. When they take the Croods in as the world’s first houseguests, it isn’t long before tensions reach a breaking point.

Just when all seems lost, a new threat will propel both families on an epic adventure outside the safety of the wall, one that will force them to embrace their differences, draw strength from each other and forge a future together.

The Croods: A New Age features the voice talent of returning stars Nicolas Cage as Grug Crood, Catherine Keener as Ugga Crood, Emma Stone as their daughter, Eep; Ryan Reynolds as Eep’s boyfriend, Guy; Clark Duke (Hot Tub Time Machine) as Thunk and Cloris Leachman as Gran. They’re joined by new stars Peter Dinklage (HBO’s Game of Thrones) as Phil Betterman, Leslie Mann (Blockers) as Hope Betterman, and Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars: Episode VIII-The Last Jedi) as their daughter, Dawn.

The Croods: A New Age will be released in Australian cinemas soon!
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The film is filled with imaginative moments like Thing (the hand with no body) watching appendage porn on his laptop and the butler Lurch (Conrad Vernon) tickling the ivories and belting out the R.E.M. song Everybody Hurts. One strange part is that most of the tidbits of clever are tailored to an audience a generation (or two) older than the current crop of youngsters.

The story as it is involves the art of being yourself and not following the norm and that message is delivered in a number of somewhat abnormal ways. This involves details like having hidden cameras in people’s bathrooms and cat fishing the townspeople on their social media feeds.

Given the film’s mixed reception, it offered a surprisingly high level of entertainment. It is also consistent in presenting those moments that make you feel clever for knowing the context and reference of its humour. It’s creepy, kooky and clever.
Rob Hudson
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The underlying message is a positive one (believing in yourself and seeing greatness in everyday moments) but really even if the theme was completely saccharin, who could take that much offense when it is delivered by yellow plastic beings with hooks for hands!

The jokes fly fast and furious while the filmmakers get the mix of adult humor and childlike wonder spot on. There is also the fun of identifying the voice actors. The list includes Morgan Freeman, Jonah Hill, Liam Neeson and Channing Tatum to name just a few.

Few films released this year will be as guaranteed to entertain the entire family as The Lego Movie. Its wild imagination and chock o block approach never lets up and rarely skips a beat. Just a note to end, for families on a budget, you can feel comfortable in skipping the added expense of 3D screenings as the film works just as well in 2D.
Rob Hudson
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