I'm quite picky to like movies, especially movies for children... I understand the bad ratings that got this one. But i want to say that i enjoyed very much this movie... I don't know where did it come from, it's like an UFO, you could find a few flaws to it, i guess, but it really worked for me... I'm french and about of the age of the writer (Jamel Debbouze)... so maybe that helped me to be synchronized with what he wanted to do. I felt this movie has been made with heart, every character, every moment captivated me, i feel it's like a music that can work for you or not... In my case, again, it worked from start to finish, even if the story sometimes lacks of credibility, it really didn't matter, the voices of the characters and their acting made me always laughed or smiled or something... They even imitated a very famous comic actor of the past of the french cine (Louis de Funes)... That was so amazing to hear him almost alive...! I saw it with my kids two or three times, and we often imitate now the way the characters spoke, or jokes they made... So, believe it or not, this movie is one of my favorite, all category, all time! It's a UFO, but made with heart!! I can assure you at least that. But i completely could understand if you won't find anything there enjoyable for yourself. Especially if you're not French and if you see it dubbed in other languages... But try it and see if the music hits you!

Mmmmmmh ...Although I have been using it for years, this is my first comment EVER on IMDb ! One advice : do not trust reviews :)Maybe I end my silence because I think this cartoon/movie does not deserve such an unfair treatment ; or is it because I am French (excuse my English, but I wanted everyone to be able to read it... or not LOL) and have watched Jamel in so many different contexts since my teen age ?I enjoyed the movie and truly do not understand its bad review here (and from what I read from google.fr) : - Visuals, effects and animations are far from being perfect (cheap motion capture that I usually do not like) but, this time, it worked with me, and provided me with enough paintings, colors and emotions - Voices (from the original, French, version), or at least main characters' voices are quite fun and well played (Edouard/Jamel, of course, but above all his best friend "Ian" made me laugh so many times) - Funky & Soul music goes along quite well and helps keeping a fresh and catchy rhythm - Progressively, light humour (a little "Gaulois" / Gallic (?), maybe) turns into an epic story, more profound that it seemed at first sight, and might even push you to think a little further and connect to the Man or the Monkey within yourselves... yep yep ;)I expected to find "traditional Jamel's humour" (that I still quite enjoy), but I was eventually very surprised by "Mr. Debbouze's" first work as a director, by its quality and its variety that should entertain a quite larger audience. Some kind of (alternative) allegory of mankind... hahaha ;)Finally, here is a list of things with which you might want to be at peace in order to enjoy the movie pleasantly, OR "Why I (did not) eat the critics" : 1) One has right to do a pastiche (quite successfully I would add) of the great Louis de Funès ; I only see here the humble and unexpected tribute from a man to a genius 2) One has right to make "incoherent" cartoons (with Pterodactyls and Humans living side by side)... Some directors even made movies about Humans living side by side with Dinosaurs... C'mon ... Guys ! Really ? 3) Jamel Debbouze has right to make a movieAll in all, I would recommend for family's entertainment (and fans of : Alain Chabat / Les Nuls / Astérix ...), original mixture of stupid gags and clever situations, available to every child with a caring eye (young or old).

Monkey twins of a king are separated at birth. The one deemed to be the rightful heir of the throne is dropped from from a ledge of a tree since he was too puny physically to represent the throne. The other twin grows up to become king of the tribe where he rules the tribe using tradition and fear. The infant monkey survives the fall and learns how to coexist in the habitat he fell into, both socioeconomically and with "street smarts".The forsaken monkey eventually find his way back to the tribe and is rejected because of his lack of physical strength, but that is where he learns that he is the son of the king. But despite being of noble blood, he remains humble.After a traumatizing event at the tribe and expelled, he finds himself in forsaken land where he further evolves. He discovers an attractive monkey, saves her life, follows her, and wins her affection. Together, they traverse 10000 years of evolution where they discover fire, military tradition, and basically other inventions discovered during the stone age.Meanwhile there is a mutiny at the main tribe. The monkeys there found out that they were being manipulated socially by the evil village sorceress. They collectively decide to seek out the forsaken monkey and his girlfriend for shelter, since he has displayed having the knowledge of fire, advanced hunting, and shelter while they where up in the tree.The new brother king is forced to recognize the reality of the situation given that tradition and fear are no longer effective methods of persuading the tribe into obedience.Meanwhile the forsaken monkey manages his newfound followers like a construction foreman as he builds the new colony. However, the threat of socialism knocks on the door as new monkeys demand shelter, but within seconds, the evil village sorceress attacks the new colony with her summoning bee magic, causing chaos at the new colony.Eventually, they quickly burn the sorceress alive and their old habitat but the war has left them homeless and despaired. However, with the blue-blooded twins working together, they invent hope (aka social manipulation), allowing the people to band together and work as a unit for a better future. His gamble for unity caused by the unfounded hope was not misplaced and they eventually find a new, better place to live.The movie itself is about evolution and how intelligence is more important than physical force and social status. However, physical force and social status are still important to rule a civilization. The main character himself is a depiction of Napoleon since he always has a hand in his garment, which was a signature of Napoleon's. Napoleon was regarded as one of the leaders of the French revolution, and the staple of modern democracy, human rights, meritocracy, and capitalism.However, I feel like this movie was as much of a demonstration of French CGI abilities as it was a story to be told. As an amateur CGI animator, I feel like this movie lacked the modern day techniques used at Hollywood to create a movie that is convincing in its story telling. The movie also lacked the most important ingredient in movies, video games, and any form of respectable entertainment; music. The music in this movie was appalling and it hardly evoked any emotion necessary for me to have during the story.In a personal note, as a francophone not born in France, I find this movie rather hard to understand. My personal opinion is that the true French from France has been tainted by immigration and the language itself has evolved to something that is unintelligible to an outsider. I have the feeling that France itself is evolving into something I don't recognize, thus this is somewhat ironic to the story its telling. Whether I'm the one not evolving or the French people are becoming lesser is subject to interpretation. :)

Obviously it's a Jamel Debouzze Debouzze Debouzze business. If you are not familiar with or not into Jamel Debouzze stuffs and his comic multi-french team you will probably find yourself lost in Debouzze's logic which is Debouzze's way of acting.The story in 1h36 is about an instantaneous evolution simian-homo erectus which coexists with pterodactyls, the use of fire, music, dynasties...they don't respect how events occurs on the time line...which is not a bad thing if you have not yet had enough of Jamel Debouzze because you may like the way they get through it. You will definitely be disappointed if you try to compare this to, let's say "The Croods" Watch with kids if you have time