Atomic Team Review: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

PHILIP BARRETT: I’d never been introduced to the Ice Age films until this most recent outing. Oh sure, I’d heard of them and was mildly interesting in seeing the first one, but for whatever reason I never got to it. The first did receive pretty decent reviews while the second was pretty much reviled by anyone under seven. Fox still thinks there’s an appeal (or they heard the term “STRIKE!”) and have decided to give us a third entry in the franchise.

ANDY GATHMAN: I saw the first Ice Age when we were visiting relatives and my then-three-year-old happened upon the movie box and insisted on watching it with us. Though he was enthralled, laughing wildly throughout, I felt I could take it or leave it. It seemed very much a movie for children and not nearly as well developed as, say, Shrek (Dreamworks) or Finding Nemo (Pixar/Disney). On this third installment, however, the Ice Age franchise seems to have improved upon the original formula and worked in plot and character nuances that held my attention and interest through the duration of the film. My son (now four) loved it, and I enjoyed it as well.

PHILIP: And I’m sure the film will play well to kids, as well it should. It’s not exactly a terrible movie, but it’s not without it’s problems either. The biggest one in my opinion stems from how unnatural the actors seem to be at times. A couple of times I felt the actors were talking “at” each other rather than “to” each other. The best example I can use is in the begging when Diego and Manny are having a discussion. Denis Leary and Ray Romano seem to be operating on different plains.

ANDY: I agree that the film has some problems. In particular, it doesn’t get off the ground very smoothly. The conflict Sid and Diego have with Manny as he is preparing for a child isn’t very convincing to begin with. At the same time, I applaud the attempt to explore one of the difficult dilemmas faced by every new parent: how to maintain loyalty to one’s friends on the verge of a change that is bound to change everything. And as clumsy as the conversation between Manny and Diego was, that is when I thought things really picked up steam.

PHILIP: It’s a theme the film builds upon over the course of it’s run time and no doubt it’s a nice one to follow. Things didn’t really kick off for me though until we’re introduced to Buck voiced by a true talent in Simon Pegg. He’s silly without going overboard and gives the picture a much needed shot to the arm that it was teetering with before he came into the fold. He’s Solid Snake but more outlandish, and the film is way better for having him.

ANDY: For me it picked up considerably when Sid happens upon the dino eggs, and begins attempting to raise them as his own. Though it was a brief section of the movie before mama T-Rex takes Sid and her babies away, they made the most of the scenario and piled on plenty of gags. How can you not when you have a prehistoric sloth attempting to be mommy to three baby dinosaurs. Favorite moments for my son (judging by the laugh-factor) were the toboggan ride with the three eggs and the playground mess. But your point is well taken—without the addition of Buck, the mad one-eyed weasel, the movie would have groaned to a dragging conclusion. As it turns out, he stole the show from the moment he makes his vine-swinging entrance, until he finally says goodbye and destroys the cave linking the surface with the cavern that time forgot.

Like Vince says, "you're gonna love my nuts."

PHILIP: That’s what surprised me most about the film was that I was able to feel something good for a character. A sense of depression came to me when Buck wanted to go back. I wasn’t crying my eyes out but at the same time I wanted him to go back with the rest in case there’s an Ice Age 4. Touching on Sid though, I absolutely hated him. Understandably he’s the village idiot but there was something in John Leguizamo’s voice that didn’t sit well with me. Whatever it was had me rolling my eyes anytime he ungraced us with his presence.

ANDY: Certainly that’s one of the main themes of the Ice Age movies—a herd formed not because everyone is alike but in spite of everyone’s differences. When you get down to it, there’s something to dislike about each character, and yet their commitment to one another is what keeps the “family” intact. Sid, though, is certainly is the least lovable of the bunch. Still, they choose to love him, even when they are given an obvious out (“Uh oh, the dinosaur took Sid away. Too bad…may he rest in peace.”) Manny in particular risks not only himself but his whole family to rescue the “village idiot.” Why does he do this, when he loathes the creature as much as we do?

PHILIP: Because of the dedication to family, and also an interesting point. Plus, you’d be hard pressed to find a group or family that doesn’t have the moron of the bunch (some parts of my own family would make the case that it’s me, but they can snuff it.) The point Andy is making is that Sid, regardless of how bad of an idiot he acts like, is still a part of their family. Thus they feel the need to protect him and rescue him, even if he’s the black sheep. We might be being a little bit too analytical of a kid’s film, but it’s nice to see that some thought was put forth rather than none.

ANDY: Yes, we digress, but as I mention earlier, I appreciated that the filmmakers found a script that worked on multiple levels. Woven through it all are plenty of jokes and sight gags to keep you laughing, right up to the end. All told, it was a better than average kids movie, and I’d say probably the best of the Ice Age trio. Two days later, my four-year-old is still talking about it, and I didn’t find myself cringing when he asked if we could see it again sometime soon. For anyone considering this movie, chances are your kids will love it, and you won’t hate it.

PHILIP: I concur. I fully expected to come into this getting another silly, asinine kids film. While at times this is what the movie gave me, I came away liking parts and was completely taken with Buck. A note though, I saw this film in 3D and I don’t know if it’s the glasses but the animation didn’t look as pristine as it should. Up had a similar problem too but this was just atrocious. In any case though, the film will play fine to it’s audience and at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters.

Andy’s Grade –