Encino Man Synopsis & Summary

Synopsis

A clueless caveman meets his intellectual match in the form of Pauly Shore in this teen-oriented comedy. Dave Morgan (Sean Astin) is a high school student in Encino, California, where he spends most of his time with his dazed-and-confused buddy Stoney Brown (Shore) and tries to figure out why his girlfriend Robyn (Megan Ward) left him for thick-headed jock Matt (Michael DeLuise). Hoping to boost his low status in the High School pecking order, Dave wants to put in a swimming pool at his family's home for a massive post-prom party. While Dave and Stoney are digging the pit, an earthquake strikes that unearths a frozen caveman (Brendan Fraser). To Dave and Stoney's surprise, the frozen Neanderthal soon comes to life, and after a bath, a shave, and a new set of clothes, the boys are passing off their dim-witted-but-friendly companion "Link" as an exchange student from Estonia. Link soon becomes the most popular guy at school, and Dave is determined to use Link's social success as a way to win back Robyn and foil Matt. Encino Man marked the directorial debut of Les Mayfield, who previously produced the critically acclaimed documentary Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse. - Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Movie Info

Theatrical Release Date:
05/22/1992
DVD Release Date:
01/18/2000
MPAA Reasons:
for mild language and sensuality.
Run Time:
88 min.
Distributor(s):
Buena Vista
Production Co.:
Buena Vista, Hollywood Pictures, Touchstone Pacific Partners I
Director(s):
Genre(s):
Themes:
High School Life, Double Life, Assumed Identities, Time Sleepers, Fish Out of Water
Tone:
Goofy, Light, Silly, Upbeat
Keywords:
Valley-girl, caveman, cryogenics, cultural-shock, earthquake, freeze, high-school, man, prehistoric, prom, school, swimming-pool, teenagers
Country of Origin:
USA (05-22-1992)
Language:
English
Status:
DVD