The Croods: A New Age

The Croods: A New Age

movie

PG, 2020, Animation, Family

WISE
76%

WISE Score

76

Avg. Tomatometer

Cave family meets suburban cave family in this colorful sequel about learning to get along with your evolutionarily-superior neighbors.

IMDb6.9
RT Critics76%
MC56
TMDB7.5
Common Sense Media
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Screenwise Verdict

The Croods: A New Age is exactly what it promises to be: a competent, colorful animated sequel with heart and positive messages about acceptance. It's not going to change anyone's life or win major awards, but it delivers solid family entertainment with themes about embracing differences and working together.

The prehistoric setting keeps things playful and avoids heavy-handedness, while the contrast between the 'primitive' Croods and the 'evolved' Bettermans offers some light social commentary that's accessible to kids. It's safe, wholesome, and genuinely entertaining for its target demographic.

The main limitation? It's fairly formulaic. If you've seen one DreamWorks family-learns-to-get-along movie, you've seen them all. But sometimes formulaic is exactly what you want for family movie night—predictable, positive, and unlikely to spark any nightmares or awkward questions. It's a solid B+ in the animated family film category.

Age Fit

Best for ages 5-11, hitting the sweet spot for kids who enjoy animated adventures with family themes. Younger elementary kids will love the colorful creatures and slapstick, while older ones can appreciate the social dynamics. Tweens might find it a bit young unless they're Croods superfans.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
82

Family-centered story that emphasizes cooperation, embracing differences, and working together. Models positive family dynamics and conflict resolution between the two clans. The prehistoric setting keeps things light and playful, with age-appropriate humor. Some sibling rivalry and parent-teen tension is present but handled constructively.

Imaginative
74

Colorful prehistoric world with creative creature designs and fantastical elements. The concept of contrasting families (primitive vs. more evolved) offers some interesting social commentary. However, as a sequel, it treads familiar animated-adventure territory without breaking significant new ground. The walled paradise and evolutionary contrast provide decent imaginative hooks.

Safe
88

DreamWorks animated family film with standard cartoon action and peril appropriate for the genre. No concerning content for the target audience—expect slapstick comedy, prehistoric creature chases, and mild tension between families. The 'epic adventure' likely includes typical animated action sequences but nothing traumatic or graphic. No surprise inappropriate content expected.

Enriching
68

Delivers solid themes about accepting differences, family bonds, and finding common ground despite surface-level disparities. The evolutionary contrast provides light social commentary about judging others. However, it's primarily entertainment-focused rather than deeply thought-provoking. TMDB rating of 7.459 suggests it's enjoyable but not exceptional. Offers some discussion material about prejudice and cooperation.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Positive messages about embracing differences and finding common ground—basically prehistoric 'don't judge a book by its cover'
  • Family-centered story that models working through conflict and supporting each other when it counts
  • Vibrant animation and creative prehistoric world-building that keeps younger kids engaged
  • Themes about not letting pride or prejudice get in the way of relationships that older elementary kids can grasp
  • Safe, predictable DreamWorks entertainment—you know exactly what you're getting
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What to Watch For

  • Standard animated action sequences with prehistoric creatures and chase scenes—nothing traumatic but some mild peril
  • Some family tension and conflict between the clans that drives the plot (but resolves positively)
  • It's a sequel, so familiarity with the first Croods film helps but isn't strictly necessary
  • Slapstick humor and caveman jokes that might feel repetitive if animated comedies aren't your thing

Conversation Starters

  • "Why do you think the Bettermans and Croods had trouble getting along at first? Have you ever met someone who seemed really different from you?"
  • "Which family would you rather be part of—the wild Croods or the more 'civilized' Bettermans? What are the pros and cons of each?"
  • "The families had to work together when they faced danger. Can you think of a time when you had to cooperate with someone you didn't really like?"
  • "What did the two families learn from each other by the end?"
Stills
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