The Croods - 6 stars out of 10

The Croods - 6 stars out of 10

I thought that I would hate “The Croods.”  Something about the character design rubbed me the wrong way, but I actually found this to be an enjoyable film.  Let me be clear, this is not a sophisticated animation that caters to adults (like “Beauty and the Beast” or “Brave”), but it provides good family laughs and a cuddly saber-tooth tiger.  I was put off by Nicholas Cage’s voicing of Grug simply because it often lacked emotion.  Other than that, the voices acting was good (particularly Chloris Leachman as the grandmother.  The real draw of this film is the imaginative portrayal of the prehistoric world, full of vibrant color and creative creatures.  While cavemen seemed to be an odd choice to star in a film, they provided a great excuse to explore the possibilities of this world.  I actually found Alan Silvestri’s score to be the highlight of the film, creating a few emotional notes that would have eluded us without his cues.  At the end of the day, this isn’t the blockbuster that you have to see in theaters (like “Frozen”) as its slapstick humor makes this film more appealing to children than adults; however, if you are looking for something simple to put on the tv as you unwind at the end of the day, this story will do the trick while still providing an awesome visual experience.