Movie Review: Caveman (1981)
Synopsis: After being banished from his tribe, caveman Atouk sets off on his own, learns to walk upright, discovers fire and makes new friends, forming a new tribe. However, his desire for the beautiful Lana keeps putting him at odds with his former tribal leader, Tonda.
Who's in it? The movie stars Ringo Starr, Dennis Quaid, Shelley Long, John Matuszak and Barbara Bach.
Review: I was undecided about what movie to watch this morning so, since it had been a few years since I had last watched it, I decided to put Caveman on. The movie ended up being what I remembered it being - goofy and a bit dated but also entertaining.
Atouk (Starr) is an interesting character, friendly and intelligent but also clearly in need of better priorities. His obsession with Lana (Bach) is something that both kept getting him in trouble and, at times, didn't exactly paint him in the best light, especially by today's standards. For example, his attempt at raping an unconscious Lana was played to humorous effect but it was still attempted rape. As a result of that, it was hard to necessarily consider him the good guy despite being the main protagonist.
On the flip side, I can't think of a better actor to play Tonda than Matuszak. The former NFL defensive lineman and fellow Wisconsinite was as strong and menacing as you would expect the main villain to be but at the same time managed to pull off the slapstick comedy when called for, adding to the movie's laughs.
The film also has a strong overall supporting cast as well. Dennis Quaid was great as Atouk's best friend/sidekick Lar, especially when given a chance to do his own thing while Shelley Long's Tala provided both a love interest for Atouk and, because of her jealousy toward Lana, a potential wildcard that could make things difficult for him.
Even the movie's weak dinosaur special effects just seemed to work. The Claymation fit right in with the overall goofiness of the film, even though I'm sure there were (and still are) people who will be quick to point out dinosaurs and cavemen didn't exist at the same time.
The film's final battle between the tribes was a perfect fit for the rest of the film as well, with Atouk forced to fight the much larger and stronger Tonga one-on-one despite a clever attempt to gain an advantage. It set up a bit of a surprise as far as the ending was concerned, providing closure with just the right mix of laughs. It was refreshing to see considering poorly written endings ruin a lot more movies than they should.
Final Opinion: I am going to be the first to admit the film has some flaws and a few ideas that haven't aged well. However, thanks mostly to a talented cast, it is still a funny and entertaining movie that is worth taking the time to watch.
My Grade: A
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Here are some reviews of other 1980s comedies:
Movie Review: Stoogemania (1985)
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