Early Man Parent Guide

What is the name of the sport played with a black and white checkered ball? If you call it soccer instead of football, you may be at a disadvantage with this UK production.

Using stop-frame techniques, Aardamn Animation sets out to prove what many Brits have believed all along: Football is in their blood because the history of their involvement with the sport goes back to prehistoric times. According to this account, the game kicked off after a meteor struck the earth (in the vicinity of present-day Manchester). It continued to evolve, and by the Bronze Age, both playing and spectating had become almost a religion.

Unfortunately, a small tribe still stuck in the Stone Age is unaware of the wildly popular pastime. It isn’t until their metal-seeking neighbors trespass into their valley that the group discovers there is a more advanced civilization. The primitive band is promptly cast off their turf by the greedy Lord Nooth (voice of Tom Hiddleston). After the foul treatment, they are unsure how to reclaim their valley. That’s when Dug (voice of Eddie Redmayne) accidentally stumbles into their modern city, discovers the football arena and witnesses the competitive sport. Bravely (and naively) he challenges the home team to a high stakes game where the champions will win the right to the contested land.

The comedy in the film comes from watching these unmatched rivals prepare for battle on the field, along with portrayals of ancient materials adapted into modern-day conveniences (like using a beetle for a razor, or pigeons for telephones). It is all a bit silly, with a whole lot of slapstick thrown in. With the exception of some evil intentions and mild sports violence, the film will be appropriate for most ages of viewers.

However, the humor will likely be best appreciated by audiences that are avid football fans and/or those who get it’s distinctly British nuances. As I don’t fit well into either of those categories, many of the jokes flew over my head. Yet there was one thing I did catch – a new explanation for those occasions when soccer enthusiasts appear to be behaving like Neanderthals.

About author

Donna Gustafson

Donna Gustafson has been involved with her husband Rod's work since the beginning. Handling many of the behind-the-scenes tasks, she also creates preview pages for up-coming movies, acts as managing editor and occasionally writes reviews.