The Croods: A New Age

Like a Cro-Magnon struggling to light a fire, the animated caveman comedy The Croods (2013) offered plentiful visual imagination while skimping on the script. But in its sequel A New Age, things have advanced to the point where fire is everywhere and other discoveries have likewise been made.

Reminiscent of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 in its rampant zaniness, the sequel from Joel Crawford — taking over for Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders — is an unexpected delight, full of creative combo creatures (spiderwolves, anyone?) that kept its predecessor from becoming extinct, plus steady quality laughs and a decent story.

As the titular family of Grug (voiced by Nicolas Cage), Ugga (Catherine Keener), Gran (Cloris Leachman), Thunk (Clark Duke), Sandy (Kailey Crawford), Eep (Emma Stone), and her more evolved love interest Guy (Ryan Reynolds) seek a new home, they struggle with the concept of losing a daughter to marriage — a well-worn conflict that receives a new fluorescent paint job in this colorful, unpredictable world.

A New Age truly hits its stride, however, once the clan arrives at a walled-in utopia belonging to Guy’s deceased parents’ friends Hope (Leslie Mann) and Phil Betterman (Peter Dinklage), condescending new-agers who employ their “superior” last name to surprisingly successful punny ends as they keep their uninvited guests unwittingly oppressed and they plot to reunite Guy with their daughter Dawn (Kelly Marie Tran).

In the ensuing clan squabbles, Crawford unleashes some of the crispest, most thrilling animated action sequences since The Incredibles 2, a humorous stretch in which the film’s female characters embrace their riot grrrl sides, and gets impressive mileage out of monkeys who communicate by punching their converser in the face.

Where it all lands may be a tad formulaic, but the journey there is so fresh and fun that the rote conclusion is easily forgivable. It’s such a pleasant experience that, if the director and his collaborators can keep the proverbial fires burning, a third go-round with the Croods would be a welcome proposition.

Grade: B-plus. Rated PG. Starts Nov. 25 at AMC River Hills 10 and Carolina Cinemark

(Photo: Dreamworks Animation)