Ice Age: Continental Drift

    Reviewed by Andreas Wong on July 4th, 2012
    Fox presents a film directed by Steve Martino and Mike Thurmeier
    Screenplay by Michael Berg, Jason Fuchs and Mike Reiss
    Starring: (voices of) Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis
    Leary, Queen Latifah, Sean William Scott, Aziz Ansari, Josh Peck, Keke
    Palmer, Chris Wedge
    Running Time: 94 mins
    Rating: G
    Released:  June 28th, 2012

6/10

Manny, Diego and Sid make their long-awaited returns in this latest installment of the “Ice Age” series. The gang’s adventure takes place several years after the events in Dawn of the Dinosaurs when Scrat’s acorn hunt instigates another world-changing cataclysm that this time breaks up Pangaea. Manny and the gang are separated from the herd as they find themselves sailing on a giant iceberg. Meanwhile, those back on land face their own problems. Ellie, Peaches, Crash and the others have to head to a land bridge where they plan to later reunite with Manny. Scrat’s quest for the cursed acorn parallels the gang’s own adventure, however, poor Scrat suffers a more arduous, and hilarious, version of the journey. The sprawling narrative gradually resembles an Odyssean epic as Manny’s gang resist the songs of Sirens, defend themselves against bizarro buccaneers and seek safe returns to their loved ones.  Fans of the series will find plenty to get hyped about as they can expect a new, educational adventure that implements the cosmetic renovations needed to spruce up the format. In a major switch, Steve Martino and Mike Thurmeier replace Carlos Saldanha, who directed the first three installments. The most exciting gimmicks are the film’s 3D graphics and new celebrity voiceovers, as the story introduces characters voiced by Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj and “Drizzy” Drake. Unfortunately, all the celebrity voiceovers in the world could not remedy this film’s numbing dialogue.

Every consecutive sequel released since the original “Ice Age” back in ‘02 has festered and “Continental Drift” is no exception. The whimsical comedy that once made the franchise so popular has dissipated into a distant memory. This quaternary installment settles for mild-cute. The senile Grandma, who re-unites with Sid on this adventure, delivers most of the punchlines, however, not even Wanda Sykes’ inflection can surmount their predictability. Sid’s slothful logic attracts laughter here and there. In one scenario, Sid mutters, “Water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink”, reciting Samuel Coleridge, dismisses himself realising that he actually can drink the water around him, plunges his head into the sea and swills the water before his face morphs only moments later. The marauding pirates, led by Captain Gutt (Peter Dinklage), a villainous prehistoric ape, are remotely amusing, especially when they introduce themselves through a shanty. Personally, my favourite character is the Elephant Seal pirate, Flynn (Nick Frost). He’s just too much. The only truly impressive segment in the movie arrives at the end when Scrat locates squirrel Atlantis and darts around maniacally upon espying its cornucopia of acorns. The Atlantis sequence is a minor masterpiece of animation filmmaking that should be savoured by all for its comic truth as much as its wondrous intricacy. All in all, this film may transport children’s minds but it will keep everybody else emotionally grounded as its ersatz entertainment alienates those old enough to discern the difference.