Early Man

Early Man (2018)

Directed by Nick Park

Story by Nick Park, Mark Burton

Screenplay by Mark Burton, James Higginson

Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Eddie Redmayne, Maisie Williams, Timothy Spall

When the Stone Age meets the Bronze Age, Dug (Redmayne) is going to do whatever it takes to save his tribe from extinction.

Early Man was directed by Oscar winner Nick Park (Chicken Run), using a story he developed with Mark Burton (Shaun the Sheep). The screenplay was written by Mark Burton and James Higginson (Killing Bono). The voice acting was done by a number of stars including Tom Hiddleston (Thor: Ragnarok), Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything), Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones), and Timothy Spall (Denial).

This story is uses a familiar plot in a somewhat unfamiliar setting. The writing is good, with some funny moments throughout the story. There is also good dialogue, made better by the great actors who lent their voices to the film. There isn’t a lot of mystery in this one. Like most films directed at kids, this is a bit predictable. While it’s not that original of a story, it’s fun and right for a family trip to the theater. Younger kids will get a kick out of it.

The actors did a good job bringing the quirky characters of the story to life on the big screen. Eddie Redmayne did a great job bringing the central character to life with a very distinct personality. Tom Hiddleston did an equally good job with his role. Maisie Williams also lends her voice to the film and nails the comedy in her role. (For fans of Game of Thrones, this might be a bit of a shift in gears.) Timothy Spall is just one more of the many stars who help to make this one fun.

This film is a great example of how good stop-motion film making can look. The visuals are solid and fluid throughout the entire movie. The design of the characters is fun, and the world of the film is unique. For fans of stop-motion, this is a must-see film. This movie does suffer from some pacing issues that slow things down a bit. I would also suggest this one to fans of animation. If you love the stars who lent their voices to this one, make sure to check it out. It’s a very different project for most of them. This is a family film, so it’s easy to predict and geared to the kids. I give this one 3 out of 5 stars.

Rating: PG

Running Time: 89 Minutes

If you like the soundtrack you can click the poster below to order your copy.