The Croods (2013)

First film that we watched in our club and it was brilliant. I was hooked from the action sequence at the beginning, which was a funny reimagining of a rugby match. I really enjoyed seeing the interactions between the Croods family and Guy. The characters were down-to-earth and relatable. Each had their own flaws, but they worked together as a family to overcome their obstacles. Through the challenges they faced, they developed a better understanding of each other and have grown individually.

The dad of the Croods family, Grug, saw the biggest change. Grug was a brilliant character who tried his best to protect his family, but was ignorant and resistant to change. Eep, on the other hand, was an inspirational protagonist, whose ambitions were beyond the confine of the cave they started out in. Guy came into the narrative to light the spark to push the story forward. He is naturally charismatic and witty. He is the one that brings fresh ideas to the table. He showed the Croods that the world is much bigger than the cave. Change is something to embrace. One of the most powerful of the film is when Grug tells Eep to "never be afraid", which shows how he has moved on from being someone who would "always be afraid".

The fictional ecosystem was vibrant and believable. The animals were chimera of different species that exist in real life. My favourite was Douglas, the "crocodile". It was hilarious how it paralleled the personality of its owner, Thunks.

It's a shame about the abrupt ending, but the sequel is coming out soon. I can't wait to see how the stories with the Croods continues into the new age.