After
November’s disastrous Rise of the
Guardians, DreamWorks Animation was hit with a financial sledgehammer,
forced to write-down millions and to restructure the entire studio at the cost
of hundreds of jobs, so needless to say, there was an awful lot riding on the
success of The Croods. Now in the hands of new distribution partner
20th Century Fox, DreamWorks’ newest property was filled with
colorful environments and bold personalities, but an aggressive marketing
campaign was required to renew public faith in the animation studio. I was worried when promotion materials
refused to identify the talented voice cast that included Emma Stone, Nicolas
Cage, and Ryan Reynolds, but regardless of that choice, mass awareness for the
new feature was still through the roof.
Leading up to its release, the members of “The First Modern Family” were
absolutely everywhere, offering young audiences an attractive choice with
virtually no direct competition. I was
impressed with what I had seen of The
Croods during my time at DreamWorks, and by all accounts, the finished
product was brilliant, so I couldn’t wait to see the prehistoric family launch
a lucrative new franchise.
Gorgeously
rendered and filled to the brim with imagination, The Croods is a charming and humorous adventure that will thrill
children and thoroughly entertain older audiences. If you have ever laughed at a Wile E. Coyote
and Road Runner cartoon, you will love the slapstick brand of humor that
permeates this unconventional road film, reminding viewers that simple laughs
can be just as effective as the more complicated attempts to be clever. The individual members of the Crood family
are so well-defined and engaging that you immediately become invested in their
personalities, an undoubted testament to strong voice acting and writing. And the visuals within the film are stunning,
whether it involves the expansive environments and the starry night sky, or
simpler elements like the fantastical animals and the roaring camp fires. The
Croods has earned its place among predecessors like Kung Fu Panda and How to
Train Your Dragon, so don’t miss the opportunity to see DreamWorks
Animation’s newest runaway hit.
Overall
Recommendation: Very High
