Movie Review: The CROODS

Love for family is a universal language that transcends countries, color, and culture -- even time. In the heartwarming movie, The Croods, the world's first modern family goes on a journey of lifetime. The world, as they know it, is soon to be destroyed and they have to adapt to the changes, fast.

As they are rocked by generational clashes and seismic shifts, the family goes on a road (well, path, actually) trip where they discover new sites filled with amazing creatures and a future that was once beyond their imagination. 

What's great about this movie is that, even though The Croods lived millions of years ago, you'll find that each one of them would most likely remind you of someone in your family. There's Grug (voiced by Nicolas Cage), the typical protective dad whose hyper-vigilance has kept his cave-bound family safe, secure, and super bored.

Ugga (Catherine Keener), Grug's dutiful wife, and their son Thunk (Clark Duke), readily accept the head of the family's motto that "fear is good and change is bad" and are content to keep the status quo. Adding merriment to the mix is feisty mother-in-law Gran (Cloris Leachman) who happily makes sure she irritates (and assaults!) Grug every chance she gets, and the youngest member of the brood, Sandy, who will remind you (if you're a Filipino) of the legendary tiyanak because she seems to be the scariest and toughest Crood yet :D (Find out what happens when they shout "Release the baby!")

Of course, a family will never be without a black sheep who feels differently than the rest of the gang. Despite Grug's warnings, rebellious teenager Eep (Emma Stone) would often do the opposite of her father's wishes leading to arguments that seem unlikely to be resolved.

When a cataclysmic event forces the family into unknown parts to survive and rethink the way they live, the Croods encounter Guy (Ryan Reynolds), a forward-thinking chap who shows them inventions and innovations that made Grug wary but delighted the rest of the family. 

Do watch this film and see how the Croods went from living in fear to chasing freedom and tomorrow. You will find many things to laugh about, a lot of stuff that will make you go "Wow!", and several tender moments that may make you shed some tears. This is a family movie that I highly recommend everyone to see.

The Croods is presented in 3D by DreamWorks Animation SKG, directed by Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco, and produced by Kristine Belson and Jane Hartwell. Screenplay is by DeMicco and Sanders, with a story by John Cleese, De Micco, and Sanders, and music by Alan Silvestri.

Quick trivia: this movie presents an age known as the Croodaceous Period which, according to filmmaker DeMicco, "fell between the Jurassic Age and the 'Katzenzoic Era' -- at least according to DreamWorks archaeologists." 

Marvel at the colors, the story, the unforgettable characters and their lovable pets as well as the overall visual splendor that this movie has to offer. Again, don't forget to bring the whole family!