A generally wholesome and entertaining confection. The animation is state-of-the-art, but the simple plot mechanics and often rather tired jokes could have benefited from some rewriting.

Aardman has always done this layering of humour, so that adults can enjoy their stories as much as children, but this one pushes the volume up to 11. The glee runneth over from the first shot.

The story is thin, allowing little room for imaginative engagement, and the comedy uninspired. Early Man contains a nice anti-sexism message, but delivers it half-heartedly.

Eddie Redmayne’s hero Dug and his chums can’t match Wallace and Gromit for eccentric charm, but the silly visual gags and groan-inducing puns (‘Jurassic Pork’) still come thick and fast.