The Croods (left) meet The Bettermans (right) in DreamWorks Animation's The Croods: A New Age, directed by Joel Crawford. The Croods (from left): Thunk (Clark Duke), Gran (Cloris Leachman), Sandy (Kailey Crawford), Grug (Nicolas Cage), Ugga (Catherine Keener) and Eep (Emma Stone). The Bettermans (from near right): Phil (Peter Dinklage) and Hope (Leslie Mann).

The Croods vs. The Bettermans in The Croods 2

Lately, life has been all about survival in our family’s little cave: a house that feels too small for us all, a yard that needs more maintenance then we want to do, and a neighborhood that we never see anymore because there’s no where to go. Being together in this space has its moments of feeling overwhelming for everyone. However, to survive, we have learned not to focus on our lack of additional floors and privacy.

The more we are together, the more I realize to cherish these moments as time speeds by too fast with my children. We’re bringing out the dolls that they might outgrow in a few more years, adding in crafts whenever we have a spare moment, learning to garden, and taking the time to bake from scratch and decorate cakes together on weeknights for no special occasion.​

Much as our tight space has taught us to be in the moment, watching an advanced movie screener of The Croods: A New Age (aka The Croods 2) reminded me of this lesson too. The movie shares heartwarming reasons why cave people, The Croods, had a more meaningful lifestyle than their counterparts, The Bettermans. Watch this trailer to learn more.

The Croods are wild, adventurous, and uninhibited. They are satisfied with their lifestyle until they meet The Bettermans, a family with walls, rooms, and farming.

How relatable is it in this time to learn not to compare yourself to others? As we all begin to know each other exclusively through virtual screens and social media updates, it’s easy to imagine everyone else having a better time in their own home, in their own cave far away.

With a predictable ending, the message is clear. Love who you are, and enjoy your lifestyle. Comparisons won’t do you any good. We can learn from each other, but we are who we are at heart.

The visuals looked as though they would be stunning with vivid colors and lush landscapes. You can spot incredible creatures, like kangadillos (a cross between a kangaroo and armadillo), giant lightning eels, and the large green sabertooth tiger they ride. However I watched the screener with my Google Chromecast, and I did not get the full visual experience.

With the plot focusing on the silly, swooning teen cave people meeting and falling in love, the movie brought a touch of humor to our long weekend at home. Action is packed into the first few minutes before the title scene even comes across the screen.

Watching this movie, it reminded me that one day not far away, my children will start their own pack. Perhaps it will be a pack of best friends in the first year of middle school when independence takes on a whole new meaning. When they return to social life as it used to be, I hope they remember that this time at home was not a crude awaking whatsoever.

As soon as our schedules return to normal, remembering these moments together — making memories in our tiny cave, going back to the basics of homesteading, and our fantastic family movie nights together — will remind us to slow down even when the world once again picks up pace.

Where to Watch The Croods 2

The movie will come to Premium Video on Demand, which means services like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+.

Is The Croods on Disney Plus?

The Croods movies are owned by Dreamworks, which is a separate entity from Disney. Therefore, there are no plans for The Croods to come to Disney Plus. The original Croods is available on Netflix.

Croods New Age Release Date

The movie will be on PVOD Friday, December 18th . Join me to chat while watching the movie by using the hashtag #TheCroodsWatchParty on Twitter on Friday, December 18 at 7pm EST!

For more movie and entertainment news, make sure to follow Enjoying Family Life on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.

%d bloggers like this: