When Encino Man begins, it is wintertime as the caveman shuffles into his home. He has been dealing with the threats in his life: the threat of not finding enough food or water; the threat of predators; the threat of the cold that is creeping into his living area. He and his mate exchange worried glances as he tries to start a fire. And then yet another threat arrives; something he probably does not understand: an earthquake. They cry out as their cave crumbles around them; they reach toward each other, barely touching as their world disappears.
How The Caveman Is Found In Sunny California
The scene changes to feature another earthquake shaking another home: the bedroom of Dave, a high school senior. He thinks his biggest threat is not being popular enough to go to the prom. He is hoping that by building a swimming pool, he will attract more friends who might want to party at his place. His sister says "no chance" this is going to happen.
Dave’s friend, Stoney Brown, listens to the complaining and offers advice: mellow out, don’t be crusty, it’s all about the “do-back” and being a good friend, not how popular you are. Dave is sort of listening to this as he digs the hole for the pool, when he discovers a prehistoric bowl, and then a huge block of ice ... which contains the caveman from the first scene.
Dave And Stoney And Their New Friend Link
In the world of Encino Man, the rules of biology do not apply. Despite being frozen solid for several millenniums, the caveman comes to life after being defrosted by space heaters. Dave and Stoney are simultaneously scared and thrilled; the caveman is confused. The high school seniors clean up the man, give him colorful valley-boy clothes, name him ‘Link’ and get him enrolled in school.
As the men hang out and get to know each other, they handle the threats in their lives. Dave continues to believe the only major threat to his existence is a lack of popularity. Stoney repeatedly reminds him to be “mellow and hospitable” to everyone, but Dave has other plans. Link deals with his own issues: the loss of his former world, the struggle to fit into 1990s California, and a few moments of deep sadness. Stoney does not appear to be dealing with any problems and is usually easygoing, living up to his name, but during a dinner with Dave’s family he explains with uncharacteristic seriousness that his mother is “really bummed.” A few seconds later he adds that it’s not like the Brady Bunch at his house, but he is cheerful again. Perhaps understanding and dealing with his home life has made him more mature than Dave.
Dave, Stoney and Link help each other through good times and bad, but eventually Dave must decide on his own how he is going to face the truth: that there are more important things in life than being popular.
A Talented Cast
Sean Astin and Pauly Shore play Dave and Stoney, respectively, with ease and have a brotherly onscreen chemistry. The other high school students include Megan Ward, Michael DeLuise and future The Mentalist star Robin Tunney. Brendan Fraser, in one of his first starring roles, plays the massive, buff, monosyllabic Link, who piques Tunney’s interest. Film and TV veterans Richard Masur and Mariette Hartley play Dave’s parents.
A Comedy With Subtle Life Lessons
Encino Man is a comedy with plenty of visual humor and amusing one-liners. Very subtly, hidden between the men learning to get along, and their adventures in and out of the classroom, are lessons about the fleeting satisfaction of popularity, the importance of loyalty, and the joys of close friendships.
Source:
Encino Man. Dir. Les Mayfield. Perf. Sean Astin, Brendan Fraser, Pauly Shore, Megan Ward, Robin Tunney. Hollywood Pictures, 1992. Running time: 88 minutes.
Christina Guerrero - Christina Guerrero is an American journalist and writer. Her published credits include 98 nonfiction print articles.
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