Early Man Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Cavemen who can barely hunt rabbits get kicked out of their valley by bronze-obsessed French guys and then have to play soccer to win it back…with a pig-boar thing helping.

🍿 Early Man: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Stone Age Valley

In the Neo-Pleistocene era, a tribe of Stone Age cavemen, including Dug and his boar sidekick Hognob, live a simple life in a lush valley near modern-day Manchester. They primarily hunt rabbits, though Dug dreams of bigger game like mammoths. Their peaceful existence is disrupted when a Bronze Age army invades.

Invasion of the Bronze Age

Lord Nooth, the leader of the Bronze Age army, seeks to mine the valley for its valuable ore, driving the cavemen out into the barren volcanic badlands. Dug accidentally infiltrates the Bronze Age city and finds himself in a stadium where he’s mistaken for a football player.

The Football Challenge

Dug challenges Lord Nooth’s team to a football match to win back their valley. If they lose, they will work in Nooth’s mines forever. Despite the tribe’s initial incompetence, Dug is determined to teach them to play, uncovering their ancestors’ history with the sport through cave paintings.

Goona’s Training

Dug enlists the help of Goona, a skilled football enthusiast from the Bronze Age city who is excluded from playing due to her gender. She agrees to coach the cavemen, emphasizing teamwork and skill development. The cavemen gradually improve, preparing for the ultimate showdown.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Dug (Eddie Redmayne): A young, optimistic caveman who leads his tribe in a football match to reclaim their homeland.
• Lord Nooth (Tom Hiddleston): The greedy and arrogant leader of the Bronze Age City who seeks to exploit the cavemen’s valley.
• Goona (Maisie Williams): A skilled football player from the Bronze Age City who helps Dug’s tribe learn the game.
• Chief Bobnar (Timothy Spall): The cautious and caring leader of Dug’s tribe who eventually supports their quest.
• Hognob (Nick Park): Dug’s loyal and humorous pet wild boar who assists the tribe in their adventures.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Lord Nooth: “Take ‘im away and kill ‘im… do it slowly.” – Lord Nooth’s humorous command highlights his villainous nature with a comedic twist.
• Dug: “We’re cavemen, and we’re gonna win!” – Dug’s rallying cry to his tribe shows his unwavering optimism and determination.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $50,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $8,267,544
• Worldwide Gross: $54,629,139

💥 Early Man Reviews

Personal Review

I’m a big fan of Aardman animations, and ‘Early Man’ had that familiar charm with its claymation style. While the plot was predictable, I enjoyed the humor, especially the football puns. The scene where Hognob fills in as goalie was hilarious! It’s not their best work, but it’s a fun movie for the whole family.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Aardman Animations (Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run)”
  • “Families looking for a lighthearted and fun movie”
  • “Viewers who enjoy stop-motion animation”
  • “Those interested in a comedic take on prehistoric times”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Some mild slapstick violence”
  • “Brief moments of peril”
  • “Occasional innuendo humor that may go over younger viewers’ heads”

Professional Reviews

• High on Films: “While ‘Early Man’ has a genius core concept and a terrific cast, it lacks wit and spark. It’s Aardman’s first genuinely poor film.
• Bethany Cox: “‘Early Man’ really entertains both in sending up the Stone Age and football. Despite how mismatched it sounds having Stone Age inhabitants having their version of football, the combination actually goes very well.
• Samantha M.: “This fantastic, animated film from Nick Park and Aardman Animations had me laughing the entire time. Hands down, it is the best movie I have seen this year. I recommend it for kids ages 8 to 18, and adults would enjoy it too.

Audience Reactions

The inventive claymation style and quirky humor kept viewers engaged.: Most viewers appreciated the animation style and the humor, but some found the story too predictable.

Lord Nooth’s over-the-top performance stole every scene.: Many felt the characters were engaging and well-voiced, particularly Tom Hiddleston as the villain.

Overall Consensus: While ‘Early Man’ is visually appealing and humorous, some viewers found the storyline predictable, while others found it immensely enjoyable.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film features a cameo of Wallace and Gromit in the crowd during the final football match. Nick Park, the creator of Wallace and Gromit, wasn’t aware of this addition until post-production.”
• “The dinosaurs ‘Ray’ and ‘Harry’ in the opening sequence are named in tribute to the stop-motion animation pioneer Ray Harryhausen.”
• “The movie subtly references British culture with visual gags such as the zebra crossing in the Bronze Age city.”

🖥️ How to Watch Early Man?

Early Man is available for streaming on platforms such as Prime Video (rental or purchase), Apple TV (rental or purchase), and Vudu. Check local listings for availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Early Man, you might like these similar films:

• Chicken Run (2000): Another Aardman stop-motion animation with a quirky premise and underdog story.
• The Croods (2013): Shares a prehistoric setting with family-friendly humor and themes of evolution and adaptation.
• Escape to Victory (1981): Live action movie about a group of prisoners of war who agree to play a football match against a German team, echoing Early Man’s sports-based conflict.

🛒 Early Man Related Products

• Early Man [Blu-ray]: Own the movie with bonus content including behind-the-scenes footage and character design explorations. A must-have for collectors and animation enthusiasts. Relive the prehistoric football showdown.
• Early Man: The Junior Novel: Relive the adventure with this novelization, perfect for younger fans to delve deeper into the story of Dug and his tribe. Brings the characters to life in print, it features color stills from the movie.
• Early Man Movie Poster: Decorate your room with the official ‘Early Man’ movie poster. High-quality print showcasing the film’s unique claymation characters. Great for fans and collectors alike.
• Aardman Animation: Classics Collection [DVD]: Relive the magic of Nick Park and Aardman Animations with this DVD set featuring classic Wallace & Gromit shorts, Chicken Run, and more. A must-have collection for animation fans.

🎧 Soundtrack

Early Man features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Tiger Feet” – performed by New Hope Club

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Ancient Man Uses Prehistoric Animals to Defeat The Most Advanced Civilization Ruled By a God-King

Ever wonder how other movies tackle the ‘primitive vs. advanced’ trope? This recap dives into a similar story about ancient humans facing a god-king, and honestly, it’s pretty wild to see how they overcome the odds!

✨ Rate