REEL DEL: The Croods REVIEW

Its time for a prehistoric fun time with Dreamworks newest animation offering for 2013, The Croods.

This is the story of the prehistoric family of the Croods, which includes Eep (Emma Stone), a girl in a family of cavemen living in pre-historic times, talking about how her family is one of the few to survive nearby, mainly due to the strict rules of her father, Grug (Nicolas Cage) and his wife Ugga (Catherine Keener), daughter Sandy, son Thunk (Clark Duke), and his mother-in-law (Cloris Leachman), which were used in living in a cave all of their lives but when seismic events destroys their home, they now embark on a journey of finding a new home.

They would also encounter a new guy named Guy (Ryan Reynolds) and his pet Belt. The movie comes in 3D and is actually a visual feast . I also liked the Owl City track featured in the movie. Kids will definitely love this movie because of the humor and also values which they can learn from the characters.

REEL DEAL: The Croods - Catherine Keener SPOTLIGHT

KEEN ON CATACLYSMIC CHANGES: CATHERINE KEENER AS 1ST MODERN MOM IN "THE CROODS" (3D)

Percy Jackson's onscreen mom Catherine Keener puts on her maternal acting instincts once again in the big family 3D animated adventure "The Croods," lending her voice along with Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds and Cloris Leachman.

From her numerous and notable works such as her Academy nominated roles in "Being John Malkovich" and "Capote," to diverse movie roles in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," "40-Year-Old-Virgin," "Out of Sight," "Where the Wild Things Are," "The Interpreter" and "S1mone", Catherine Keener marks her debut voice role in the family romp "THE CROODS."

REEL DEAL: The Croods TRAILER

FIRST FAMILY, A FEW MILLION YEARS AGO: “THE CROODS”

                
Get ready for a million adventures when “The Croods” opens March 22 in 3D in cinemas nationwide.

THE CROODS is a 3D comedy adventure that follows the world's first modern family through the journey of a lifetime. When the cave that has always been their home is destroyed – with the rest of their world not far behind it – The Croods are forced to set off on the first family road (or path) trip. Rocked by generational clashes and seismic shifts, The Croods discover an incredible new world filled with fantastic creatures, and a future beyond any they imagined.

The Crood family dynamics, though unfolding a few million years ago, feel like they could come from your own household.  Like most fathers, family patriarch Grug (Nicolas Cage) is fiercely protective of his wife and three kids. His hyper-vigilance has kept his cave-bound family safe, secure and....super- bored.  Grug’s strong and dutiful better half, Ugga (Catherine Keener), accepts her husband's "fear is good; change is bad" mentality, as does their son Thunk (Clark Duke), who’s content with the static status quo.  Feisty mother-in-law Gran (Cloris Leachman) never tires of needling (or sometimes assaulting) Grug; and stone-tough toddler Sandy might be the fiercest Crood yet. 

But leave it to a rebellious teenager (is there any other kind?) to stand up to parental authority.  Grug's sole focus is survival, but Eep (Emma Stone) wants to actually live, and her curiosity about the world outside their cave collides with her dad's primitive rules.  (Ever the defiant outsider, Eep gets her own ledge to sleep on while the rest of the Croods pile on top of one another for some family shut-eye.)

A cataclysmic event forces the Croods to venture into parts unknown and rethink their way of living.  En route, they encounter Guy (Ryan Reynolds), whose dazzling new discoveries – like fire...and shoes – shake up the Croods in unexpected ways. Most of the family (especially Eep) is open to Guy’s vision of a new place called “tomorrow,” but Grug sees the biggest calamity yet: a charming teenage boy from which he must “protect” Eep.  The Croods soon realize that if they don’t evolve…they’re history.

The movie presents an age known as the Croodaceous Period, which, says filmmaker DeMicco, “fell between the Jurassic Age and the ‘Katzenzoic Era’– at least according to DreamWorks archaeologists.” It is a world of visual splendor and grandeur that holds innumerable challenges for the beleaguered clan. 

From DreamWorks Animation SKG, “The Croods” is directed by Chris Sanders & Kirk DeMicco, and produced by Kristine Belson and Jane Hartwell.  The screenplay is by Kirk DeMicco & Chris Sanders, with a story by John Cleese, Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders. The music is by Alan Silvestri.

“The Croods” features a stellar voice cast headed by Nicolas Cage as Grug, Ryan Reynolds as Guy, Emma Stone as Eep, Catherine Keener as Ugga, Clark Duke as Thunk, and Cloris Leachman as Gran.

Take a peek at "The Croods'" hilarious adventures at 20thCenturyFoxPh YouTube channel here: 

REEL DEAL: The Croods MOTION POSTER

SEE IT COME TO LIFE!

DreamWorks and 20th Century Fox unveil an extraordinary first in visual presentation –  “The Croods” living poster is here:   http://www.thecroodsmovie.com/motionposter/

Written and directed by two-time Academy Award® nominee Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon, Lilo & Stitch) and Kirk DeMicco (Space Chimps) and produced by Kristine Belson (How to Train Your Dragon) and Jane Hartwell (Shrek), “The Croods” stars Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Catherine Keener, Clark Duke and Cloris Leachman. “ The Croods”  is a comedy adventure that takes us back to a previously undiscovered era in the history of our planet known as the Croodaceous, when nature was still a work-in-progress... full of never-before- seen creatures and landscapes.  Audiences will relate to the hilarious family antics as an imaginative and resourceful newcomer helps the Croods navigate their way through the fantastic world beyond their cave. 

“The Croods” will open in 3D and 2D format on March 30 in theaters nationwide!

REEL DEAL: The Croods SPOTLIGHT

Dreamworks 3D THE CROODS

“The Croods” is a prehistoric 3D comedy adventure from DreamWorks Animation to be distributed by 20th Century Fox that takes us back to the beginning of time.  In a previously undiscovered era known as the Croodacious – we find the Crood family when Mother Nature was still experimenting and the flora and fauna we know today hasn’t evolved yet is where the story all began.

At the center of this world is the Crood family, led by Grug (voiced by Academy Award® winner Nicolas Cage), an over-protective father who, like all dads, is doing all he can to hold his family together at a time when cataclysmic changes are happening.  Together with his wife (Catherine Keener), kids (Emma Stone and Clark Duke) and ornery mother-in-law (Cloris Leachman) in tow, Grug guides his family through this spectacular environment, full of amazing creatures, to find a new cave to call home. Along the way, they encounter Guy (Ryan Reynolds), an imaginative and resourceful newcomer who takes risks and wholeheartedly embraces the promise of tomorrow.

Inspired to tell a story of how a family survives during tough times, directors Kirk De Micco and Chris Sanders set the story in a prehistoric frame when they don’t have to worry about bills, but is concerned on how they would adapt to the world changing before their very eyes.  “This is the world’s first family road trip,” says De Micco while Sanders shares that “Our cavemen are very gifted, they can run 40 miles an hour, can throw a rock many many miles and very physically capable, but mentally we have a lot of beginner minds.”

Take a look at the world’s first family – The Croods family photo: (from left to right)

Thunk (Clark Duke): The middle-sibling who stands 6-foot and weighs 9, 320 pounds, and 9 years old who has the best heart and the worst coordination.

Gran (Cloris Leachman): The ferocious, almost crocodile-type woman and is the main antagonist for Grug’s  pater families.

Sandy the baby:  Who doesn’t speak but more of growls and is one tough kiddie survivor.

Ugga (Catherine Keener): The open-minded wife of Grug who like moms around the globe tries to keep her family alive and fed all the time.

Eep (Emma Stone): The adventurous daughter of Grug and Ugga who likes to try new things.

Grug (Nicolas Cage): He is the animated caveman version of well-meaning but hopelessly outdated dad and leader of the clan.

Guy (Ryan Reynolds, in a separate photo with his sloth-like pet): A prehistoric revolutionary guy who prefers using his brain and comes up with new ideas with whom Eep falls in love.

                

“The Croods” will open in cinemas March 30, 2013.