The third Ice Age installment, Dawn of the Dinosaurs, hits theaters in 3D, July 1st.

Ice Age 3 storyline exceeds expectations, rivals parts One and Two

By Phillip Nakov
movieset.com

The sub-zero heroes from the previous two Ice Age pics are back in full form as they embark on an incredible adventure beneath the ice, discovering a world of dinosaurs in the center of the earth!

Movie: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Stars: (The voice talents of) Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Simon Pegg, and Queen Latifah.

Written by: Michael Berg, Peter Ackerman, Mike Reiss, Yoni Brenner and story by Jason Carter Eaton.

Directed by: Carlos Saldanha and Michael Thurmeier

Distributed by: 20th Century Fox

Opening on: July 1, 2009

EXPECTATIONS

What I’d Seen – More of the same woolly mammoths, Scrat, with his hilarious antics, chasing his nut. The posters and the trailers were all vivid, bright and sold me instantly on the humor and fun that I’d seen in the two previous installments. It’s more of a good thing!

What I’d Heard – That the 3D aspect of the movie was cool and that they didn’t over use it but rather allowed it to add to the movie’s overall look and feel. (This is very true I can confirm.) I’d also heard that they were moving underground since the Ice Age would have killed off all the dinosaurs on earth so hence the move to a new location with a new set of characters to have fun with.

What I Wanted – A continuation of the story I had come to like and enjoy. The dynamic between Manny (Romano) the woolly mammoth and his pal Sid (Leguizamo). This classic odd couple introducing Ellie (Latifah) as Manny’s wife makes this pairing even more hilarious. The wit and fun of the two previous movies made me especially anxious to see the third installment. But, of course, the reason we all want to see Ice Age is for the adventures of Scrat! He is the best part of the movie and the perfect comedy relief. I really just wanted more Scrat.

The introduction of a female Scrat means a richer storyline for the beloved acorn chaser families have come to know too well.

EXPERIENCE

What Turned Me On – The characters were all back and they were each given great story arcs and funny lines. The pressure of becoming a father for Manny and the wish for a family for Sid are both well thought out and intriguing. It helps that this is a family picture and kids can relate to the importance of family. Plus, I loved the fact that even Scrat has a love interest in this story and he must chose between his love for the acorn and the love of a Miss Scrat. Terrific!

What Turned Me Off – Not much. The story was fun and engaging. This movie is best seen with children and is made for kids. So if viewed with the eyes of a child, it’s a winner. I did not go into this expecting a heavy message or a thrill ride. But what I did get was a terrific heart warming story with characters that were both likable and familiar to me. Maybe some of the action sequences would be too intense for the under-five crowd, but otherwise: fun!

Simon Pegg adds a new edge to the ensemble cast with his portrayal of the one-eyed weasel, Buck.

AFTERMATH

I Left Thinking – I can’t wait to take my niece and nephew to this!

I Left Saying – I wonder if they will have plush toys of the new characters that I can buy? I really want to get a Miss Scrat!

Expiry Date – This pic will have a strong opening and may even best Public Enemies as it is for the full family and Public Enemies is just for the big folks. It will have a nice run, not on par with Pixar’s UP, but strong nonetheless. Expect this to have a big release for the holidays as a gift idea. It will wind up on the shelves of most homes right next to Ice Age One and Two. It certainly holds its own against the two previous installments and is perhaps even stronger than the second.

Days later – I can’t wait to take my niece and nephew to this!