Friday 22 March 2013

The Croods 3D (U)

The Flintstones, I think it would be fair to say, is well known. Fred, Wilma, Barney, Betty - they've transcended time and played out to countless generations. The modern stone age family thing has been done and done well. If you're going there, you'd better be good.

Fortunately, we're in the hands of Dreamworks here - the people who helped you to Train Your Dragon and showed that it's not just Pixar and Disney who have the keys to the magic animation cupboard. 

The fact the 3D actually works and enhances the film came as a bit of a shock, mind.


At its heart, The Croods (co-written by some young upstart called John Cleese - look out for him, he's going places) is a warm, funny, joyful explosion of a movie. It has laughs, it has visual gags, it has characters you care about... and it's a tiny bit magical.

The basic story is of a family who have to leave their cave (reluctantly in the case of dad Grug, voiced by Nicholas Cage) as the world is starting to move and change. Dad's mood is not helped by his daughter Eep (Emma Stone) swooning over the new cave man in town, Guy (Ryan Reynolds). From here, the fun begins.

There's races across rocks, falling down stuff, climbing stuff, animals attack, there's screaming, shouting, yelling, rocks landing on peoples' heads... you get the idea. Not hugely original, sure, but who cares when it's this much fun.

Because that's what this film is - huge, unabashed, bright, colourful fun. You can't watch this and not, at some point, grin like a loon. At least once. It'll be lots, but I guarantee a minimum of one chuckle.

And part of the joy of the film is the 3D. Now, granted, this is a kiddies' film, but the detail is where the 3D wizardry is at its strongest.

Sure it looks lovely, and it's bright enough that the light loss issues are mitigated against, and you actually get the sense of depth the extra dimension is going to give, but it's when the sparks from the burning branch are floating down, it's when the dandelion seeds are breezing about your head, it's when the rubble and dust are blowing at you that you really appreciate what this medium can do. And the youngsters will love it (this is based on a quick survey of two seven-year-olds who were in our screening).

Because that, for me at least, is what 3D should be used for. Not for pointy sticks, Hansel And Gretel, not for things getting spun about in a tornado Mr Oz Powerful The And Great, but for the subtle stuff. The feeling that you're in the flock of birds; the wisp of smoke wafting away to your left. The devil really is in the detail.

I'm not saying I'm a convert to 3D, but The Croods gives you a sense of what it can do when done well. In a way similar to Avatar.

And like Avatar, the story here is simple and a tad flimsy - but where as that made Avatar a victim of style over substance, with The Croods that doesn't seem to matter. It is, after all, a film aimed at the younger viewer. It hasn't got a laboured environmental message smacking you over the head, it's a tale of family. And love.

Another key to the brilliance of The Croods lies in the peripheral characters. Belt (a sloth who, among many skills, helps to keep Guy's pants up) is pretty much a main player among the animals, but elsewhere the sabre-tooth cat, Douglas the dog, the mean plants, the feisty monkeys, the owl-faced bear creature who hunts the family and the piranha birds are all joyful additions to the adventure.

If I have any criticism it's that it gets a tad mushy and sentimental at one point, but by then it has built up so much good will it could steal your last Rolo and you'd forgive it.



There are films that, arguably, will change your life - that will make you look at things in a different way, and sure - The Croods isn't that film. And that's a good thing.

Because sometimes what you really, really want is just to have fun. To sit back, laugh, smile, feel warm and cosy, to like the characters, like what's happening, share in a journey, share in the growth of people and - by inference here - the human race.

Will be interested to see how The Croods is received in America's bible belt...

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