Cavegirl (1985) Review – Watch on CocoFlix

Stepping Back in Time, Literally and Figuratively

If you want to see early signs of the comedic brand that would define 1980s filmmaking, the 1985 film Cavegirl offers a lot of that. The premise is ridiculous, but presented in a serious manner, or at least a lewd manner. Rex, played by Daniel Roebuck, finds himself lost on a cave tour and accidentally travels back in time to the Stone Age. Once there, he meets a stone age tribe and Eba, a very attractive woman, played by Cynthia Thompson. That's about as far as the science fiction component of the movie goes. The rest is mostly Rex trying to manipulate the situation in order to get Eba on his caveman boner list. The premise is an 80s B movie and is essentially the merging of a caveman in the modern world with the fish out of water comedy.

The movie thrusts viewers into the deep end with little exposition. This is the case when a caveman named Rex meets Eba and tries to teach her English. Unfortunately, it's never about the teaching. It's was never about cultural exchange. It's about seduction. Director David Oliver Pfeil does a great job of showing the charm of his low budget movie. You can totally imagine this movie was set in 1985. There are some good laughs here. Rex is confused by the primal nature of the cave dwellers. Eba of course is curious about him (and jealous) and is played by the talented actor Darren Young. You won't find accuracy or find any philosophical arguments in this movie, but you will find pure escapism. Sit back and relax. It follows a goal that has a singular focus and it's kind of obstructionist.

The Humor of the Ages (and its Aging)

The balance of “Cavegirl” leans heavily toward physical comedy and misunderstandings, which gives “Cavegirl” its R-rating, making it firmly of its era. Rex does his best to insert modern concepts, but in the world of “Cavegirl,” the modern world does not thrive. To his credit, Rex gives it his best Nerdy, horn-doggery effort, as does Daniel Roebuck in an early career turn, and even though the attempts to woo come across as creepy, Roebuck’s efforts hinge that creepy precise and endearing, almost, in an 80s awkward teen comedy sort of way. Cynthia Thompson as Eba, has some wonderful moments where she counters Rex’s suggestive behavior, and convenes strength and curiosity through her character.

Some elements of the film have not aged well, such as Rex's strong sexual fixation on Eba, which is problematic and irresponsible from a comedic standpoint, but is defended as being just a "goofy adventure." There are particularly tough platitudes to swallow when unintended messages are delivered. It has an entirely justified R rating from sexual situations and pervasive nudity, a product of the times, but is less violent than one would have expected. 80's comedies were edgier, and this film could draw some retrospective appreciation from those nostalgic for more cutting edge humor. To others, it is just a string of stale jokes and worn out themes, relying too hard on a single-dimensional joke of Rex's inability to reach climax for its 1 hour and 25 minute runtime.

A Primitive Plot with Modern Flaws

The plot and characters of Cavegirl are as elementary/simple as the setting. There isn't much going on with the plot, and there isn't much character development. Rex likes Eba. Other cavemen like Eba. A lot of nonsense happens. The movie doesn't plan on being an epic. It's happy to be a platform for its style of humor. The design for the production is budget, but there is a lot of effort and fun with the design in the prehistoric cave sets and natural cave areas. There is a lot to be said for the costumes for the cave people, and they were directed well with simplicity in mind. The special effects depend on more on practical gags and character reactions.

I’m going to start by saying that the humor relies on old gags. It’s also quite thin. Once you get over Rex’s predicament, the film fails to establish new concepts or escalate comedic predicaments in an interesting manner. In the background of Rex’s romantic endeavors, his “pseudo research” is an even lamer justification for what is basically a sloppy academic plot. The rest of the cast, although energetic, are archetypes and serve either to further the plot or as comic relief in the face of Rex. There’s not much emotional depth and the ending is somewhat of a letdown. The film finds its voice and identifies that it is a silly, slightly dirty comedy, and stays in that lane. This potentially could lead to a sense of underdevelopment, but it stays focused and doesn’t go beyond entertaining.

Finding Your Inner Caveperson (or Not)

Who is “Cavegirl” for on CocoFlix? Not everyone. If you have zero tolerance for 80s low-brow humor or prefer your comedies without humor that is often problematic and relies on broad gaps, this might be a skip. But, if you have an appreciation for charmingly daft R-rated comedies from the 80s, “Cavegirl” might be for you. “Cavegirl” is a film that contains a subgenre that doesn’t really exist anymore, and is definitely an eighties time capsule. “Cavegirl” is best enjoyed with an ironic detachment or a nostalgic yearning for a simpler and arguably less self-aware time in film.

“Cavegirl” is a movie that doesn’t need you to do too much, but you need to be able to laugh at silly situations and be able to ignore the rougher aspects of the film. It isn’t going to win any awards or change anyone’s life, but there is a certain slice of history, albeit cringey, that is enjoyable to a specific kind of movie goer. You might find yourself watching it late at night and thinking, “Did that just happen?” The Rex prehistoric predicaments definitely have a low budget charm for those who aren’t looking for a thinking movie, which is as deep as a time traveling cavegirl movie can go.