Encino Man
Encino Man
Stoney and Dave find a caveman (Link) trapped in ice, thaw him out, and show him around town. Although Link is slow to catch on to basic concepts of 20th century life, he has no trouble impressing all the girls and helping Stoney and Dave find the coolness they've been searching for.
Mike Martins reviewedJune 13, 2025
Encino Man tries to be a quirky fish-out-of-water comedy, but much of it feels dated, loud, and ultimately shallow. While the concept has potential—a caveman thawed out in modern-day California—the execution leans too heavily on exaggerated stereotypes and slapstick rather than genuine laughs or meaningful character development. Pauly Shore’s performance is either a nostalgic hit or an acquired taste, depending on your tolerance for '90s surfer lingo and endless "buddy" talk.
The movie does have its moments, especially with Brendan Fraser’s physical comedy as the unfrozen caveman adapting to the '90s. But those few sparks aren't enough to carry the entire film. It’s the kind of movie that might work better in the background at a throwback party than during a serious movie night.
🎬 Fun Fact:
Brendan Fraser was cast just three days before filming began and did most of his own stunts—some of which involved eating bugs and raw meat on set! Talk about commitment to the role.
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Not quite extinct, but maybe it should have stayed frozen.