Mormon Moviegoers help you make informed decisions by reviewing films for artistry, content, and Gospel parallels. It was founded by Jonathan Decker of Ask a Mormon Therapist. For daily reviews join our Facebook group.
WHAT’S EARLY MAN ABOUT?
When the peaceful lives of a group of cavemen is interrupted by a Bronze-Age villain bent on turning the cavemen into slaves and their peaceful valley into an ore mine, an unexpected hero named Dug sets out to save his home and the people he loves.
IS IT ANY GOOD? (GRADE: B)
Early Man, created and produced by the same people who brought us the genius of Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run, provides us with a sweet and silly look at a time that is long gone. The humor in this movie was a little too obvious for me at some points but, based on the laughs from the children in the audience, it was definitely entertaining to anyone 13 and under. It made me wish that I could be 8 for the duration of the movie so that I could enjoy it as much as the children in the crowd.
The movie carries itself on the charm and villainy of the characters but lacks a depth of storyline that would make the movie more appealing to older moviegoers. However, when the movie does something well, it does it really well (the visuals are amazing, the characters are well rounded and relatable, and the voice work is top notch), but it just didn’t quite reach the cinematic entertainment I’ve come to expect from Aardman Animations (who also brought us Shaun the Sheep and the underrated Arthur Christmas).
All in all, Early Man is sweet and simple, much like the cavemen serving as the main characters, making it a great movie for families with younger children.
IS IT OKAY FOR YOUR KIDS?
Early Man serves up some squeaky-clean comedy for you and your children, but there is one use of the word “crap,” and some very mild violence (mostly used as physical comedy).
ANY WORTHWHILE MESSAGES?
This movie teaches the value of working together to achieve more (see “We’ll Ascend Together” by Linda K. Burton), the importance of perseverance (see “Perseverance” by James E. Faust), and the power of communication (Ephesians 4:29, Matthew 5:37).
250 Great Movies for Latter-day Families, available in paperback and Kindle.
Lindsi currently works for BYU in the Theatre and Media Arts department, and is a freelance technical director and stage manager for several theatre companies in the Utah Valley area. In her free time she loves photography, stand up paddle-boarding, running 5k’s, reading, spoiling her nieces and nephews, and (you guessed it!) watching movies. For more of Lindsi’s writing visit lindsimichellephotography.blogspot.com.