The inevitable clash between the Stone Age and the Bronze Age can only be settled on a soccer field in one epic showdown for territory rights in Aardman animation’s Early Man. Funny and full of foolery, director Nick Park (Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run) brings the expected quaintness of stop-motion and British charm that you’ll be happy to get lost in for 90 minutes or so. Anything longer would start to show some noticeable cracks in the evolution of this Caveman yarn.
Dug (voiced by Eddie Redmayne) is a lug left wondering if there’s more to life than just hunting rabbits. Chief Labnor (Timothy Spall) and the rest of the tribe have accepted what their ancestors have been doing for centuries and see no reason to change it up. But, there’s more to their painted history on the rocks than they realize. Their routine and time in their homeland runs out when their sticks and spears are splintered by Lord Nooth (a buffoonish Tom Hiddleston), rolling in on his big metal monsters while demolishing everything in his path.
Dug’s accidental escape winds up sneaking him behind enemy lines and is awaken by a new, shiny world. It’s here where he discovers the sacred game of soccer—or football if you’re in to that. After his cover is blown while disguised as the goalie for the championship team, he challenges Lord Nooth’s players to a winner-take-all game for his happy habitat.
This is a turning point for Early Man because fragments of its inventive foundation fall off under the pressure of a familiar underdog story. Dug and his team of troglodytes can’t even kick a ball, but when Goona (Game of Throne’s Maisie Williams) breaks free from the Bronze, she’s exactly the coach they need to implement the skills and spirit to overcome all odds. The riffs and montages run wild, and we all figure out what teamwork can achieve. A tale that’s been told since the beginning of time.
Nonetheless, Early Man never gets stuck in a rut because Park and his cast’s quirkiness and dry wit are determined to score. When it comes to novelty, the crowd won’t be on their feet cheering, but it’ll keep those in the stands entertained. How could it not when Dug’s pet pig, Hognob, is the goalie.
“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter@SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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