Encino Man Cheese Is Old And Moldy

Okay, let’s just say it. Right out loud. Something a little…controversial.

Encino Man? It’s… well… kinda like that cheese in the back of your fridge. The one with the fuzzy, blue stuff growing on it.

Hear me out! I know. I know. Some people love it.

Nostalgia Glasses Are Strong

There's a powerful force at play. It's called nostalgia. It makes us forgive all sorts of cinematic sins.

We remember the feeling of watching it as a kid. Remember the excitement of a simpler time?

But let's take off those rose-tinted glasses for a sec. Let’s really look at Encino Man.

The Plot Thickens (Like Mold)

A caveman gets dug up in Encino. He's thawed out. Hilarity supposedly ensues.

Brendan Fraser is Link, the caveman. Pauly Shore is Stoney, the… well, Pauly Shore.

Honestly, the plot feels like it was written on a napkin between bong rips. No offense to napkin artists everywhere.

Now, I'm not saying it's *intentionally* bad. But it embraces the badness with open arms. It's like it *wants* to be cheesy.

And not the good kind of cheese. More like that forgotten block of cheddar. The one you find during spring cleaning.

The Humor? A Tad...Paleolithic

The jokes. Oh, the jokes. They’re… dated. Like, really dated.

Slapstick abounds. There's lots of "Ugh!" and "Dur!" type caveman humor.

Some jokes haven't aged well. Some jokes probably weren't even funny *then*.

Think about it: We laugh at Pauly Shore doing… Pauly Shore things. That was the height of comedy in 1992?

Time has not been kind to the comedic stylings of the Weasel. Sorry, not sorry.

Acting? Let's Just Say "Committed"

Brendan Fraser. bless his heart. He fully commits to being a caveman.

He grunts. He stares blankly. He wears a lot of strategically placed leaves.

But commitment doesn't always equal quality. Sometimes, it just equals… commitment.

Then there's Pauly Shore. He plays Pauly Shore. No surprises there.

He bounces around, yells a lot, and says "Weez-il!". It's a performance alright.

I suspect that if you are already a Pauly Shore fan, you are happy. Otherwise, this performance is painful.

So, Why the Love?

Okay, okay. I’m being harsh. I get it. I do.

Encino Man is a product of its time. It’s a goofy, silly, somewhat offensive (by today’s standards) romp.

Maybe that's the charm. Maybe it's the sheer absurdity of it all.

It's simple entertainment. No deep thoughts required. Turn off your brain and enjoy. Maybe.

But is it a good movie? I contend that it is not. It's nostalgia fuel, pure and simple.

It's like that old t-shirt you refuse to throw away. You know it's worn out and faded. But you love it anyway.

Or, back to my original point, like that moldy cheese. You know you shouldn't eat it. But… maybe just a little nibble for old time's sake?

So, go ahead. Enjoy your Encino Man. I won't judge (too much).

But just know, deep down, that you're indulging in something that's probably past its expiration date. Like, way past its expiration date.

Just don't blame me if you get a cinematic stomach ache.

Consider yourself warned!