Ice Age Review

by David N. Butterworth (dnb AT dca DOT net)
March 19th, 2002

ICE AGE
A film review by David N. Butterworth
Copyright 2002 David N. Butterworth

**1/2 (out of ****)

A wooly mammoth, an emotional sloth, and a saber-toothed tiger form an unlikely alliance in "Ice Age," a computer-animated, post-dinosaur kid's movie with the emphasis very much on kid. It's part "Dinosaur" (that Disney movie from the summer of 2000), part "Shrek" (no explanation needed there I hope) and, whenever that bug-eyed prehistoric squirrel's on screen, trying to bury his acorn (if you haven't seen the hysterical coming attractions for this film at least a dozen times you're obviously on the wrong planet), all fun.

As it turns out, that clever preview provides "Ice Age" with its spectacular opening sequence before the film settles down into its less inventive--and certainly less consistently amusing--plotline, as the afore-mentioned herd of critters attempts to reunite a foundling with its human tribe. It's "about" fitting in but there's very little else below its icy surface.

Slow and lumbering Manfred the Mammoth (slow and lumbering-ly voiced by Ray Romano, from TV's "Everybody Loves Raymond") is heading South (actually North!) before the Ice Age hits. It's not the Ice Age that hits, however, it's Sid, an irritating hammerhead of a tree sloth whose family has upped and migrated without him (we soon find out why; he's *irritating*) and who's gotten himself into a bit of a pickle with a couple of thorny rhinos. Sid gloms onto Manfred like there's no tomorrow, figuring there's safety in numbers, especially when the numbers are this large; John Leguizamo ("Moulin Rouge") provides Sid's constant wisecracks. Manfred and Sid are soon joined, reluctantly at first, by a sly and shifty sabertooth named Diego ("The Job"'s Denis Leary, who's much-needed sarcasm, unfortunately, is kept well in check). Diego claims to know the quickest way to the humans' happy stomping ground yet has other plans, dinner plans, for his hapless companions.

Sid is, without a doubt, the most "animated" of the trio, as without his pratfalls and whining and head-smacking stupidity the company would be a pretty dull lot. But even Sid (and Leguizamo's crafty interpretation thereof) can't compare to that squirrel, which reappears from time to time and elevates the humor to a higher level. Had the squirrel served as one of our three protagonists then "Ice Age" would get a much bigger recommendation; as it is, children will find it fun but there's not much more than the occasional slapstick chuckle for adults (Sid cracks his head on something approximately once every five minutes you should be forewarned). No songs though and *that's* a blessing.

The film is missing the sophisticated humor of, say, "Toy Story," and is not as technically astute as other Pixar productions ("Monsters, Inc." being the most obvious example). But "Ice Age" does have a look all its own, especially in its depiction of the human characters, who appear as animated wooden figures, well-honed and angular, as if chiseled out of blocks of discarded lumber. And the backgrounds--especially whenever water is involved--are often times magical and quite stunning.

If you miss seeing that furry little critter scurrying around with the hyperactivity of a three-year-old before the main feature, check out "Ice Age." As a pre-historical document it's more than a little suspect but its signature rodent more than makes up for it.

--
David N. Butterworth
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