‘Croods: A New Age’ an ‘essentially harmless’ sequel

Above: A scene from "The Croods: A New Age." (Photo: Universal Pictures)

When the animated film “The Croods” opened in 2013, it received mostly good reviews. Most critics praised the animation but some were less enthused at the storyline.

Lisa Kennedy of the Denver Post wrote that the film “captures the wonder (and more gently, the anxiety) of discovery time and time again. And the filmmakers have a hoot playing with the Croods' encounters with, as well as their misunderstandings of, all things new.”

Yet New York Magazine critic Bilge Ebiri was slightly less complimentary. “ ‘The Croods’ isn't particularly smart, but it has just enough wit to keep us engaged and just enough speed to keep us from feeling restless.”

Maybe it was the mix of opinions that, at least in part, kept the film’s sequel, “The Croods: A New Age” from being produced until now (though reports are that it was supposedly ready to open three years ago). Whatever, this “Croods” follow-up is playing within driving distance of Spokane at the Hayden Cinemas 6.

As for the rest of us, because of an agreement that Universal Studios made last summer, the film won’t be available for home streaming until at least Dec. 12, a full 17 days after its opening in theaters. And there’s no guarantee that it will stream on demand (VOD) even then.

In any event, the initial reactions by critics are pretty much the same as they were for the original. Both films received a 72 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while Metacritic gave the original a 55 rating compared to a 57 for the sequel.

New York Times critic Ben Kenisberg wrote, “No one would call it a huge leap on the evolutionary ladder, but the animated sequel ‘The Croods: A New Age’ is slightly funnier than its serviceable 2013 predecessor.”

Brian Tellerico, writing for RogerEbert.com, called the film “The kind of animated sequel that operates under a 'more is better' aesthetic, hoping to numb audiences into thinking they were actually entertained.”

And Associated Press critic Lindsey Bahr wrote, “It might not be as novel as the first, but it's essentially harmless, if a little chaotic, fun for kids and doesn't need to be anything more than that.”

Indeed it doesn’t, especially in this time of COVID-19. At the same time, let’s admit that the best animated films offer so much more.