The Croods: A New Age (2020)

The Croods: A New Age (2020)

 

7/10

Starring the voices of

Ryan Reynolds

Emma Stone

Nicholas Cage

Catherine Keener

 

Directed by Joel Crawford

During the pandemic and the curious mishaps of 2020, the last thing you’d think of is that The Croods needed a sequel. Well, one was made, and I have to say, it’s a decent piece of work.

I didn’t particularly enjoy the first The Croods. The roughness of the characters and the whole idea of Guy being portrayed as an upgrade compared to the Croods made me dislike it. This sequel, on the other hand, feels different. Maybe it’s because of the focus of the plot or the added comedy—whatever it is, this sequel is far better than the original.

The voice acting isn’t the standout aspect of this animation, but the story definitely is. The writers tweaked it enough to make the movie as appealing to adults as it is to children. By putting adults in the shoes of the characters—especially Grug and the Bettermans—it becomes easier for them to see some of their own actions reflected in these characters. This approach makes watching the animation a joyride.

One thing I really enjoyed about this movie is its beginning. After a brief glimpse into where Guy is from, the animation picks up right where the last one ended. What I liked about this short backstory is that it didn’t overdo it. Many movies or animations spend too much time adding unnecessary depth that was missing in the original, and then they take even more time ironing out the kinks to build continuity. In this case, the quick look into Guy’s past simply shows why he was on his own when he met the Croods and where he was heading.

The story starts with the Croods searching for a new home. Meanwhile, the romance between Guy and Eep has progressed, and they’re planning to be together—away from the rest of the group. Grug, understandably, is freaking out and trying to convince his wife that Guy and Eep (his daughter) being together is a bad idea. During their journey, they stumble upon the home of the Bettermans, a family of three who happened to be neighbors of Guy’s family when he was younger.

The Bettermans, much like Guy, are inventive and forward-thinking. Their home, an oasis they built for themselves and their daughter Dawn, is as modern as it gets—almost reminiscent of The Flintstones. However, Mr. Betterman seems to be hiding something, particularly when he forbids anyone from eating the bananas growing in their lush, farm-like home. Mrs. Betterman has her own agenda as well. Seeing Guy again, she starts planning how to pair him with their daughter, Dawn, while plotting to get rid of the Croods so Guy will stay behind.

Dawn and Guy grew up together, but here’s where the animation took an unexpected and fun turn. Instead of a typical jealous rivalry between Eep and Dawn, they actually become good friends right from the start. Neither sees the other as a competitor, and they quickly form a close bond.

This is an animation crafted well enough for you and your family to love.