The third installment of “Ice Age” is very entertaining. It is exactly the kind of good-hearted family entertainment that I recommend to folks with children under the age of 10. Call it counter-programming to the crass and crude "Transformers" sequel that's raking in all the cash.
While I can’t say I remember the “Ice Age” stories that preceded this entry, I do remember Scrat, the squirrel who has spent most of his life trying to capture one elusive acorn.This time Scrat finds himself smitten with a female squirrel, Scratte, who also has designs on that acorn. And before getting into the meat of the narrative involving the talking animals, it is the Scrat segments that elevate the entire film. Scat is not really a talking squirrel, he’s a cartoon for sure, but one based in classic animated films. And even though “Up” will likely take home the best animated feature Oscar nomination, Scrat and “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” will be in the running for a nomination.
“Dawn” picks up essentially after the events of “Ice Age: The Meltdown.” Loveable mammoths Manny (Ray Romano) and Ellie (Queen Latifah) are expecting a baby. The new addition to the herd threatens Diego (Denis Leary) and Sid (John Leguizamo). Saber-toothed lion Diego sees settling down as the end of his manhood, and sloth Sid, well, Sid just wants kids of his own. So, while Diego makes plans to leave the herd, Sid steals some dinosaur eggs he discovers buried in an ice cave. But that ice cave might just lead to a hidden world. And those eggs contain more than the clumsy Sid ever bargained for.
This leads to the inevitable trip to the center of the earth, and a confrontation with the thought to be extinct reptilian giants. And when Manny, Ellie, Diego, and the herd go after Sid, the rescue is fresh and fun, especially when one-eyed weasel Buck (Simon Pegg) leaps into action armed with his T-Rex tooth knife.
Light-hearted fun, “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” works exactly as expected. And in 3-D justifies its theatrical release. But without the theatrical special effect, the film seems like a direct to dvd addition. Still, given the alternative “family” offering in the just plain lewd “Transformers 2,” “Dawn” is a much better choice.
Please note that while I have given “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” three stars, I don’t think that it is nearly as good as “Up.”But “Dawn” works as entertainment, “Up” wants to be more than just a child pacifier.
