Story
The Croods is an animated adventure comedy set in the prehistoric era. It’s about a family of cave people thrown unexpectedly into an entirely new world. Grug (voice of Nicholas Cage) is the leader of the pack, and he has gone to extreme lengths to ensure his family’s safety. He teaches them to be afraid of anything new, never to stray from the family or go out at night, and to retreat to the cave after every hunt. But his daughter Eep (Emma Stone) is very curious and wants to explore the world.
When secretly venturing out of the cave one day, Eep meets another human, who is called Guy (Ryan Reynolds). Eep wants to learn from this knowledgeable and wise young man. Although the Croods, and Grug in particular, don’t trust Guy at first, they eventually follow him in search of the better land of ‘tomorrow’. On the journey, the Croods face many obstacles and go through various dangers. But their biggest challenge is changing the way they view the world and their place in it. After each member of the family begins to live without fear, they discover the peace and happiness they’ve wanted all along.
Themes
Prehistoric times; fear versus bravery; personal growth and change
Violence
This movie has limited violence. For example:
Sexual references
This movie has only a few sexual references. For example, Grug keeps trying to pull Guy and Eep apart whenever they’re touching or standing near each other. He gets very protective when Eep starts to develop feelings for Guy and flirts with him.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
None of concern
Nudity and sexual activity
None of concern
Product placement
None of concern
Coarse language
None of concern
Ideas to discuss with your children
The Croods is a heart-warming tale of adventure and discovery about a family that dramatically changes its thinking, and as a result, the lives of its members.
The movie shows how a well-meaning parent who wants to protect his family also unintentionally limits the family’s freedom and stifles its curiosity. The movie emphasises the importance of adapting to a changing environment, being open to new experiences and not allowing fear to spoil life.
Nevertheless, the prehistoric world in which the Croods live is a dangerous place where the threat of death and the end of the world is always present. There are scary creatures, fire, earthquakes and rockfalls, people in danger and violence between people. Therefore the movie isn’t recommended for children under eight years. Also, many of the scary scenes are more intense in the 3D version.
If you have older children, you could talk with them about the times when genuine safety concerns might make it difficult for parents to give their children more independence as they get older. The movie suggests there are times when children should listen to their parents and times when parents should allow children to make their own choices and take risks.