The Croods

When The Croods first came out, I dismissed it, afraid it would only live up to its silly, barbaric name.  But I gave it a shot later, after its Oscar nomination for best animated feature and was happily surprised.  The film is a fun family comedy about growth and adaptation that has potential to become a classic.

The Croods are a family of six cavemen, perhaps the last of the cavemen since all their neighbors died in some prehistoric way (like being stomped by a mammoth).  They have survived because they’re extra cautious, a trait patriarc Grug (voiced by Nicolas Cage) continually teaches his family.  For days they will stay cooped up in their cave and come out only to hunt.  While this lifestyle is safest, teenage daughter Eep (Emma Stone) longs for more.  The fact that she is full of curiosity (a trait that her father warns will get you killed) makes her long days in the cave worse.

When Eep follows a strange new light outside the cave one night, she meets Guy (Ryan Gosling).  He warns her that something he calls the end is coming.  As soon as Eep is in trouble for leaving the cave, the end arrives; a huge earthquake destroying the family’s beloved cave.  Suddenly, they are thurst into a new world on the other side of the rocks, full of colorful creatues, lush jungles and new dangers to discover.  Thankfully, they find Guy again and he helps them survive, adapt and think for themselves.

However, Guy’s arrival is a threat to Grug’s authority.  According to Grug’s tired old stories, everything new is bad and trying anything new will result in death.  Being thrust into a world where everything is new and their newest member has inventive tricks to help them survive quickly has Grug’s family trusting in Guy.  Annoying as he is to Grug, eventually they will have to learn to work together in order to survive.

Once we are into act two of the film, where the family is in new and unfamiliar territory, everything suddenly becomes so lively and colorful.  There are red birds that devour animals like locus, a tiger that seems like an overgrown rainbow cat and giant carniverous flowers, just to name a few treats.  It’s all very eyecatching and delightful, even if it’s doubtful that such creatures ever existed.

The hunting scenes are especially enjoyable and show the family members roles.  They work together like a team, flipping a coin to see if eager Eep will make the first run or the clumbsy, reluctant son, Thunk (Clark Duke).  It’s easy to see Grug is trying to better prepare his son and is more protective of his daughter.  From the sidelines, Grug directs and cheers his son on, while the mother, daughter, baby and grandmother wait for their turn to run and assist.  In the heat of the chase, the giant egg the family has snatched is tossed like a football, the end zone back at their cave.  And in tense situations their secret weapon, the most primative of the bunch is unleashed, “Release the baby!”  It’s a fun bit of action that let’s us get to know the family and how they work together.

What I believe propelled The Croods into its Oscar nomination was it’s perfect combination of top-level animation and a story with a lesson all ages can enjoy.  While Grug is initially a brute unwilling to change for the safetly of his family, we see that even the most hard-headed caveman has potential in the new world if he is willing to try.

“I was in love once.  He was a hunter, I was a gatherer.  It was quite the scandal.  We fed each other berries, we danced.  Then father bashed him on the head and traded me to your grandfather.”

Hocus Pocus

Whether they love it or loath it, every 90s kid knows Hocus Pocus.  My uncle took my sister and I along with his children to see it in theaters.  This was back in 1993, when I was nearly eight years old, a good age for this movie.  Nowadays, I’m surprised at the nostalgic joy I feel whenever I come across Hocus Pocus.  For those who just don’t get it, maybe this drinking game will help you get into the spirit.

Hocus Pocus begins with a quick look back in time at the legend of the Sanderson sisters.  In 1693 Salem, the trio of witches capture a girl and suck the life force out of her, restoring their youth before her brother, Thackery Binx (Sean Murray) could rescue her.  The witches curse young Binx to roam the world as a black cat and they are hanged by angry villagers.  However, right before their hanging, the witches plant a curse that could bring them back to feed off the lives of children again.  All they need is a virgin to light the black flame candle on a Halloween night.

In 1993 Salem, Max (Omri Katz) is a teenager who has just moved in from California.  He scoffs at all of these witchy stories that the town seems to thrive on, but that pretty girl in class, Allison (Vinessa Shaw), is smart and supportive of Salem’s haunted culture.  While Max is unhappily taking little sister, Dani (Thora Birch), out trick-or-treating, they run into Allison.  When she offers to take Max and Dani to see the old Sanderson sisters’ house, Max sees his chance to impress this girl and lights the black flame candle, sure that nothing would happen.  So much if Max was going to deny his virginity, cause the witches are back and looking for children.

I laugh more and more every time I see Hocus Pocus.  Some of these jokes I have always laughed at, like Mary (Kathy Najimy) riding a vacuum cleaner when they can’t find enough brooms.  Or the other moments where twentieth century technology scares the witches.  Then there are some sexual jokes I grew into that flew over my head in the theater.  Today, some of my favorite parts are the laughable way that witchy Sarah Jessica Parker hits on everything that moves and the absurdly 90s moments.  Anyone would be ashamed of any evidence that they once shaving “ICE” into the back of their head.

Though Hocus Pocus is one of those loud comedies for kids and adults that Disney made too many of in the 90s, I’ve always liked how this one holds up.  The story is partially character driven, giving Max the opportunity to prove that he is not really a selfish non-believer  but a brave boy and a good big brother.  While most Halloween nights, the parents would have to step in at some point, that is taken care of with a spell, cleverly disguised as a catchy tune at the town party.  Even Binx, from the very beginning, is part of the story as a helpful talking cat, but not used as a prop.  The only thing that has ever really bugged me is when Winnie (Bette Midler) lands in the cemetery towards the end.  Didn’t Binx say that witches cannot set foot on that hallowed ground?

I don’t expect my future children, or today’s kids, to love Hocus Pocus the way I do.  There is a silly nostalgia in it for me, it was a part of my childhood.  Regardless, it’s still great Halloween fun that kids and adults can enjoy without risking any nightmares.

“Aren’t you broads a little old to be trick or treating?”

The Bishop’s Wife

The film takes place at Christmas time.  Snow falls and people of all ages look in the store windows dreaming of gifts and miracles.  Little do they know that an angel is walking among them, guiding a blind man across the busy street and catching a baby carriage just before it reaches the end of the sidewalk.

Bishop Henry Brougham (David Niven) is trying to build a new cathedral, which he hopes will be funded mostly by a widow’s generous donation.  With his old church in need of money and his wife becoming more distant, he seems to be losing sight of his spiritual and family life.  He realizes him and his wife, Julia (Loretta Young), need more time together, but with all his engagements for the cathedral he’s at a loss.  Despairing in his office, with his wife alone at the dinner table, Henry prays for guidance, turns around and finds Dudley (Cary Grant), who claims to be an angel sent to help him.  Problem is, Henry believes he needs help with the fund raising, but Dudley is really there to help his family life.

Though Henry is a man of the church, he has a hard time believing that Dudley is an angel.  Especially when he stubbornly thinks that Dudley isn’t helping him at all.  While Henry insists on keeping his busy schedule, Dudley spends time with Julia.  Soon, Julia seems to take too much of a liking to Dudley and Henry fears that Dudley has really been sent to replace him within his family.

This film is probably best enjoyed with kids around Christmas time.  The ultimate message about remembering what is most important isn’t too profound to be lost on a younger audience.  The whole film is very family friendly and has some fun and magical moments.  Dudley’s wave-of-the-hand angel powers make for some pleasantly unexpected Mary Poppins style special effects.  He helps decorate a Christmas tree, refill wine glasses and help the Brougham’s little girl throw a perfect curve-ball to be accepted into the snowball fight.  There’s even a wonderful ice skating scene that just screams winter wonderland.  Of course, it’s all done with Grant’s classic charm.

The holidays are coming up, and if you’re looking for a good film to calm your cooped up kiddies that isn’t so commercialized or full of sing-alongs, The Bishop’s Wife might be just what you’re looking for.  It can also be a great way to introduce them to one of the great classic stars, Cary Grant.

“I was instructed to come here and answer your prayer.”

 

Friendly Persuasion

This is the story of a Quaker family in southern Indiana during the Civil War.  You already want to skip it, don’t you?  Believe me, it’s better than you expect.

The family consists of parents Jess (Gary Cooper) and Eliza (Dorothy McGuire), oldest son Josh (Anthony Perkins), teenage daughter Mattie (Phyllis Love) and Little Jess (Richard Eyer). They all have their traditional Quaker clothing, but all but Eliza have some sort of temptations that stray them away from their strict faith.  Jess starts to take an interest in music, Mattie is starting to get romantic notions about dancing with boys and the sons are curious about the war they keep hearing about.  Little Jess also has an enemy that tempts him toward violence; Samantha the goose has become a pest to Little Jess and a pet to Eliza, but I think anyone watching the film will absolutely love her.

A good portion of the film makes sure we understand how Quakers live.  It seems there is more don’ts than dos.  No music, dancing, violence, gambling, drinking, smoking, the list goes on and on.  Of course, everyone but Eliza, who is a pastor at their church, has their vices and it’s Eliza’s job to constantly keep them on track.  We hear a Methodist church singing on Sunday morning and the we see the Quakers, solemn and silent.  They sit men on one side of the little church, women on the other, all facing the middle and simply bow their heads in silent prayer or read their bibles.  The silence is only broken when a member has something they want to proclaim, usually a confession or a praise to God.  The kids look so bored at these meetings.

One day, a man from the Union army comes to the Quaker’s meeting to ask if any men would volunteer to fight.  He’s told right out that it is against their religion to fight.  This gets the idea into Josh’s mind that perhaps he should fight, if he doesn’t defend his family who will?  And of course devout Eliza cannot bear to see her son do something so against their beliefs.  This moral dilemma is mostly in the second half of the film, but is the climax of the drama.

This film is a fun wholesome family-pleaser, it has the same kind of values and charm of films like Old Yeller and Disney’s Davey Crockett.  A good amount of the film is fun, showing the family at the county fair with all sorts of games and activities to tempt them.  There’s even a part where Jess and Josh are traveling and meet a house full of women who go gaga over Josh.  Believe me, watching Anthony Perkins politely try to get away from the girls is hilarious.

If you’re looking for something edgy, this is not it.  But if you’re looking for a good film to watch with your kids, show them a new perspective with the Quaker lifestyle or a very small lesson on the Civil War, Friendly Persuasion is perfect.

“I hope nobody saw us.  I want to come to meeting with nothing in my heart but peace and love.”