Have you ever walked into a movie not quite knowing what to expect and finding yourself pleasantly surprised when you enjoyed it more than you thought you would? DreamWorks Animation’s latest feature, The Croods, had just that effect on me.

All I went in knowing was that it was going to be about a prehistoric family and that Nicolas Cage voiced the father. My expectations were a tad on the low to neutral side. However, I think it was the fantastic animation and imaginative takes on the prehistoric flora, fauna and creatures of all varieties that quickly captivated me. It also didn’t hurt that I was given a free poster and temporary tattoos afterwards. What can I say? I’m a big kid at heart.

But the main staying power for this movie was that it had so much heart. This was a movie that you could take along your entire family and feel good about your togetherness as a unit. Lessons that I took away from the film included every member of a family serves their own unique purpose. Whether it’s your brains or your brawn that’s your biggest strength, we’re all important in our own way and we must all work together in order to get things done. The reviews on my television didn’t lie — this movie was kind of like an animated version of Avatar, and it’s definitely worth seeing in 3D.

Another important lesson learned was to never stop pushing yourself to new heights and discoveries, whether they are of a personal or a professional nature. The central character of the movie was a young woman named Eep, who was voiced by the talented Emma Stone. Eep is different from the rest of her family. Her burning curiosity and fondness for the sun separate her from her parents, siblings and grandmother who are content to remain crude, ignorant and in the dark shadows of their cave.

The Croods is really the contemporary animated version of Plato’s The Allegory of the Cave. Who says cartoons can’t educate the masses? In Plato’s allegory, a cave is described by Socrates with fearful inhabitants who have been too afraid to leave their cave because it’s the only world they’ve ever known. They’re uneasy about the world beyond it and what dangers (real and imaginary) they’ve perceived in their minds based upon the shadows from a fire that they see dance across the cave’s wall. The only way to free one’s self from the “darkness” of the cave is to question one’s sense of reality and allow one’s self to see the proverbial light (the metaphor of the sun).

This is exactly what happens in the movie. Eep slips out of the safe shelter of her family’s cave one night because she sees the tantalizing shadows of fire playing on the walls just outside her door. Her curiosity and tenacity allow her to be brave enough to go out exploring at night even though her father, Grug, has strictly forbidden it. It’s not that Grug is a bad father. Actually, he’s a very good father. As the caveman of the family, it’s his job to be overprotective and to keep his small herd together at all costs, even if those costs involve sacrificing himself.

This movie made me think about what it took to survive in the prehistoric world and I’m more convinced than ever that I wouldn’t have been among the survival of the fittest. Chasing after birds to steal their eggs for breakfast? Constantly being fearful of an animal bigger than you on the attack? Give me trips to the grocery store and the zoo to watch animals in cages any day of the week.

One of my favorite scenes of the entire movie was one in which they discover the beauty of the night sky for the first time. The stars would have been truly breathtaking from such a view unpolluted by bright city lights. For that, I did envy them slightly.

Ryan Reynolds’ turn as Eep’s love interest Guy was surely preparation of what is to come when he stars as the lead character in DreamWorks’ upcoming Turbo. His velvety voice lends itself well to voiceover work and the romantic in me enjoyed watching their love story evolve. I also have to say that I don’t understand why Nicolas Cage hasn’t done more animated features. He’s always had a voice that makes me melt, but I think this was the first time I’ve seen him portray a cartoon character and I really liked it.

Oddly enough though, my favorite character was not Eep or Guy or even Grug. It turned out to be Belt, a monkey-like creature that was used to keep Guy’s pants from falling down. Who knew Belt was voiced by Chris Sanders, one of the film’s directors? He seriously stole the show for me and dozens of little kids around me who kept giggling and repeating his catchphrase (well catch-noise might be a better word for it).

Overall, this movie has taught me not to judge a movie by its title, for The Croods was anything but rudimentary. It had a dynamic cast, spectacular animation and a refreshing, contemporary twist on an allegory that’s almost as old as time itself. I’ll never be too old to appreciate a good animated movie and I think that’s a good thing.

For more on The Croods, be sure to check out An’s interview with directors Chris Sanders and Kirk DiMicco.

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