I didn't originally care to see this movie in theaters - I had planned to watch it when it came out on video. But I think we all know what that means. I've been planning to see the second half of Lilo and Stitch for the past six months and I know I like that movie. But Kelly decided that she wanted to see it, so off we went. And it's a good thing she did.
There's nothing better than a good buddy picture, except perhaps an initially-not-buddies-at-all picture. We begin with Manny (Ray Romano), a slightly melancholy mammoth who decides to go against the grain. Enter Sid (John Leguizamo), a sloth who has, once again, been left behind by his family during the yearly migration. Manny, who is more than a bit misanthropic (or something along those lines...), can't seem to shake the little pest, and the two inherit a human child. This child happens to be the quarry of a pack of saber-toothed tigers. So we have the pleasure of meeting Diego, who's just the kind of lying, two-faced, devious bad-boy that I really go for when pulled off right.
Each member of the trio has a separate objective (whether covert or palpable), but the missions all converge at the pass. And they need to get there quickly. Between an ice-capped volcano, a doomsday cult of dodos, and Diego's marvelous shortcut, it begins to look as though they're not going to make it. Alas, the trials and tribulations do nothing save bring the group together. Then there's Scrat, whose hilarious antics seem to have captivated all. All except me. Don't get me wrong - he's cute and sort of humourous, but I think I got a little old by the end of the movie.
The best part of the movie, next to the humour, is the lack of love interest. There's a minimum amount of schmaltz - only two or three tender moments, and even they work. There are a couple of female sloths who for a moment or so, but nothing becomes of it and everyone remains blissfully unattached to the conclusion of the film. You could learn a lot from these guys, Miguel and Tulio...
The animation is super-stylized (and really cool!), so the technological advances over at Fox aren't easily pinned down. That said, the water was very impressive. And the music is great. I always listen all the way through the credits.
So, if you're in the mood for a chuckle or three, a fun story, and some toe-tappin' music (or if you just think it would be funny to hear Denis Leary in a family movie), you should run out and get Ice Age right now.
Ice Age is a Twentieth Century Fox Animation production. It was directed by Chris Wedge and Carlos Saldahna, written by Michael Berg, Michael J. Wilson, and Peter Ackerman, and produced by Christopher Meledandri, Lori Forte, and John C. Donkin. The score was composed by David Newman.
Created June 29, 2003.
