Wonderfully inventive animated fare

Rating: 10/10 (25 March 2013)

THE CROODS (2013) **** (Voices of: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, Clark Duke, Chris Sanders, Randy Thom) Wonderfully inventive animated fare about a family of prehistoric cave dwellers forced out of the safety of their home to the outer world while nature decides to make things problematic (i.e. earthquakes and lava). Wildly entertaining, some incredible animation (like the aforementioned natural disasters) and a stand out A-list vocal talents of Cage as the terribly overprotective paterfamilias; Reynolds as the Cro-Mag bo-hunk whose resourcefulness aids the clan of necessity; and in particular a very vivacious and fun-loving turn by Stone who steals the movie as the teenager who desperately wants to see more of the world at large. Appealing to children of all ages with comedic brilliance and artistic integrity. Directed with panache by Sanders and Kirk De Micco (who co- scripted the clever script too boot).