THE CROODS 2: A NEW AGE (U)

Released July 16 In cinemas

Cut from the same mammothpelt loincloth as its 2013 predecessor, director Joel Crawford’s energetic computer-animated sequel forms a protective kill circle around its central theme of female empowerment.

Plotlines from the original thaw out in The Croods 2: A New Age, disguised by breathtaking visuals in retina-searing colour, including a thunderous opening setpiece of stampeding kangadillos underscored, amusingly, by The Partridge Family’s I Think I Love You.

A class divide between the eponymous cave family and refined rivals, who believe privacy promotes individuality, establishes a the narrative framework to explore intergenerational conflict and the reluctance of parents to let offspring fly the nest.

Anachronistic gags about tablets and man-caves in a script credited to Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman, Paul Fisher and Bob Logan warrant appreciative smiles with Ryan Reynolds working overtime among a starry voice cast.

Grug (voiced by Nicolas Cage) continues to lead his prehistoric brood comprising wife Ugga (Catherine Keener), son Thunk (Clark Duke), daughters Eep (Emma Stone) and Sandy (Kailey Crawford), and Gran (Cloris Leachman).

The sanctity of the clan is threatened by Eep’s boyfriend Guy (Reynolds), who floats the idea of establishing a separate tribe with his beloved.

The Croods 2: A New Age mocks its title by revisiting scenarios from the first film with additional visual lustre.