The Croods: A New Age

The prehistoric Crood family—Grug (Nicolas Cage), Eep (Emma Stone), and the rest of the clan—are reunited in DreamWorks' follow-up to their 2013 smash as they look for a new home after fleeing their cave. They find a gated paradise already inhabited by the Bettermans, a more developed family headed by Phil (Peter Dinklage) and Hope (Leslie Mann), whose contemporary lifestyle contrasts with the Croods' innate tendencies. In the meantime, Dawn (Kelly Marie Tran), the Bettermans' daughter, interferes with Eep's romance with Guy (Ryan Reynolds).

The animation showcases DreamWorks' technical prowess, with the "Tomorrow" settlement featuring vibrant bioluminescent flora, unique architecture, and whimsical creatures. Action scenes, including a "thunder sisters" rescue and a climactic battle with giant punch monkeys, highlight inventive creature design and dynamic cinematography that rivals live-action films. The cast, including Nicolas Cage as Grug, Emma Stone, and Ryan Reynolds, delivers emotionally resonant performances that explore themes of progress versus tradition and the subjective nature of safety. The film critiques modern conveniences through the Bettermans' lifestyle while examining the Croods' survival instincts. Slapstick humor is woven throughout, with Grug's interactions with the Bettermans reflecting influences from classic comedy icons. The female characters' rescue mission stands out as an empowering and imaginative sequence, affirming their agency while setting a new standard for animated action scenes.

The sequel struggles with an overload of narrative threads, including Guy's integration into the Crood family and the culture clash with the Bettermans, resulting in insufficient development despite a 95-minute runtime. The climax feels rushed, with an abrupt introduction and easy resolution of the punch monkey crisis. Unlike the first film's apocalyptic urgency, this sequel presents a manufactured external threat and predictable internal conflicts. Character arcs regress, particularly Grug's and Thunk's, and Guy's shift in characterization contradicts previous developments. The film leans into tired humor regarding the Bettermans while failing to offer balanced satire of the Croods. The soundtrack lacks the emotional resonance of the original, relying on generic choices rather than integrating them into the narrative. Exposition overshadows the climax, which arrives too quickly, leaving the stakes unconvincing.

The Croods: A New Age is a technically stunning but narratively inconsistent follow-up. The vocal cast lifts material that sometimes undervalues them, and it delivers the color, energy, and physical humor expected from DreamWorks animation. However, it introduces new characters and ideas without properly integrating them, sacrificing the emotional coherence of the previous movie in order to expand the franchise. The end product is amusing but disposable—visual creativity used to support a cautious narrative.

Staff:

Directed by: Joel Crawford

Written by: Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman, Paul Fisher, and Bob Logan

Story by: Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders

Produced by: Mark Swift

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Clark Duke, Cloris Leachman, Leslie Mann, Peter Dinklage, and Kelly Marie Tran.

Edited by: James Ryan

Music by: Mark Mothersbaugh

Production company: DreamWorks Animation

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Release date: November 25, 2020

Running time: 95 minutes