Movie Review: “Early Man” is cheeky fun from Aardman Animation

Movie Review: “Early Man” (PG)

“In the beginning, there was football,” says Aardman Animation, the wonderfully creative studio behind “Chicken Run,” “Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-rabbit,” and “Shaun the Sheep.” Does this British-centric stop-motion animated comedy live up to the golden standard set by Aardman’s past efforts? More on that in a second.

During the dawn of the Bronze Age, a clan of cavepeople (that is the PC term, isn’t it?) find their barbaric existence turned upside down at the discovery of the quickly approaching modern world.  The fate of this goofy but lovable clan will ultimately be determined by … a game of football (aka soccer)!

The hilarity ensues when forever-earnest tribesman Dug (voiced by Eddie Redmayne) accepts a wager put forth by the mighty Lord Nooth (voiced by Tom Hiddleston). The stakes are simple: If Dug and his tribe win the big game, they will continue to live life as they’ve known it. If they lose the match, however, Nooth and his people will gain ownership of the tribe’s land.

“Early Man” is all wrapped up in a familiar but likable underdog sports movie casing. Look no further than the football match that serves as the film’s primary focal point. As for the teams battling it out for top prize, they consist of a clan composed of slightly eccentric but undeniably sweet-natured simpletons and a group of Bronze Age showoffs who wildly underestimate their competition.

“Early Man” offers up a cheeky sense of humor, and that should come as no surprise as it was directed by the great Nick Park, the genius behind “Wallace and Gromit.” The screenplay by Mark Burton and James Higginson offers up great moments — including a tribe’s encounter with an abnormally large duck, a mishap with a message pigeon, and a rousing football sequence — but it should also be noted that some of the jokes do fall a bit flat. What’s more, “Early Man” doesn’t quite have the consistent energy of “Chicken Run” or “Wallace and Gromit.” That said, what this film might lack in story and energy it clearly makes up for in stunning stop-motion animation and joyful vocal work. And the themes of family, teamwork, and perseverance are pretty darn endearing.

Again, “Early Man” doesn’t represent Aardman at its very best. It falls more in line with “Pirates! The Band of Misfits.” Still, no Aardman production is a waste of time, and if the constant giggling from my kids was any indication, “Early Man” is clearly worth seeing.

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