The Croods is not going to match the heights of "How to Train Your Dragon" but it's the kind of film that you would enjoy with the whole family.

Rating: 7/10 (8 June 2013)

In an alternative world just like ours where you discover piranha birds, saber rabbits, mouse elephants and bunch of other hybrid animals; we are familiarized to a Stone Age family called the Croods. Clouded in judgment from their ignorance and fear of the unknown outside their cave, the Croods follow one simple rule "Never not be afraid". Abruptly one day their life is flung into complete disarray as their safe haven is shattered and everything they know is tossed out of the window as they are forced to venture into stunning unfamiliar land.
Directed, written and screenplay by Kirk De Micco (Space Chimps) and Chris Sanders (How to Train a Dragon, Lion King); 'The Croods' never surpassed my 'This is going to be an average film' expectations when I'd first seen the trailer. Expectations didn't get any better as you are introduced to the characters and a bit of the story via a voice over narration that spelled 'Seen-it-before' in my head. What happened next did come off as a bit of a surprised as the film managed to rise above its cliché story and to certain extend its characters to take you on a joyful ride through a family's journey in peril and happiness.
Grug (voiced by Nicolas Cage) is the overprotective father trying to protect his family from peril. Be it darkness or curiosity; everything leads to immediate death as depicted by him in every story he tells. You feel for him as he falters to lead his family to safety while comes across situations he can't muscle his way out of. The true protagonist of the film, the familiarity of the voice of Nicolas Cage brings further allows you to delve yourself into the character. Eep (voiced by Emma Stone) is the daughter bursting with curiosity about what lies beyond the cave. She shares a fantastic chemistry with her father as she struggles to break free of his rules. It was refreshing to see a clear exit from the usual character design that you expect in animated films when it comes to the leading lady.
Guy (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) who plays Eep's love interest comes across as the more sophisticated human by using (what he calls) the brain. Along with his pet Belt (who also happens to hold his pants up if you were wondering), he wanders the world on his own in search of tomorrow through his resourcefulness and ideas. The charming gooey eyed character is the basis for a lot of laughs. Gran (voice by Cloris Leachman) and Thunk (voice by Clark Duke) are a constant source of laughs while Ugga (voice by Catherine Keener) does her bit as a supporting wife to Grug. All the characters fit in perfectly complementing each other as and when required without creating any unnecessary havoc.
The Animation is brilliant as expected from the DreamsWorks film. With most of the humor of the physical kind the character design has an outwardly bulky and indestructible that works well in the context of the film. The camera work is smooth and does everything right to capture the hits and misses of the families journey.
The Croods is not going to match the heights of "How to Train Your Dragon" but it's the kind of film that you would enjoy with the whole family.