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Sunday, July 8, 2012

Movie Review: Ice Age 4: Continental Drift

Ice Age 4: Continental Drift (U)
Directed by: Steve Martino, Mike Thurmeier
Starring: Ray Romano, Denis Leary and John Leguizamo
Running Time: 94mins

Manny, Diego, and Sid embark upon another adventure after their continent is set adrift. Using an iceberg as a ship, they encounter sea creatures and battle pirates as they explore a new world.
With the fourth instalment of the Ice Age movies, we’re on really safe territory. You know exactly what you’re going to get – the story will alter and the situations will vary, but the humour, relationships and ultimate outcome are a comfort zone. I don’t mean this as a negative, it’s actually really, really sweet.

When the movie opens, things are pretty comfortable, Manny (Romano) is concerned that his now teenage mammoth daughter Peaches (Keke Palmer) is growing up too fast – she’s talking to boys and hanging out at places her dad doesn’t agree with. And when he catches her in a seemingly romantic encounter an argument ensues… just as the great continental drift begins, yes, the one that formed the world we now know it (took a mere fifteen minutes, didn’t you know) and Manny, Diego (Leary)and Sid (Leguizamo)are once again in an epic adventure… this time on a mission to get back to Manny’s family.

Along the way they cross paths with a pirate called Guts played by the great Peter Dinklage, who sadly brings nothing new to the piece. Yes, he’s good and the performance is solid but in the grand scheme of these movies he’ll just be another character.

And sadly this is part of the problem. The movie, while fun and well handled, is nothing at all new – much like the other three. Can you remember what the situation was in the others or if there were villains or who they were? No, truth be told, neither can I.

This is a shame because, no matter how good the production - and it is good – it will remain little more than a fun distraction, a comfort food of sorts. And I guess we need movies like this.

So, while you will enjoy it and you will laugh and be impressed by the graphics and 3D, you’ll leave no better or worse off than when you went in. So ultimately, a fun distraction that does nothing wrong, but will never be more than the some of its parts.

Go, see, enjoy and be comfortable in the warm embrace of an old CGI buddy…

4 out of 5 Sheep




Marc Savage- check out more of Marc's reviews over at Following the Nerd 

5 comments:

  1. The only thing I remember from the two that I've seen ( never saw the 3rd ) is the little guy who goes nutty over the nuts.

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    1. I saw the first one and that is it. Just not my cup of tea

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  2. I can remember it because my kids have watched all of them :) to man times. I enjoyed the 3rd one with the baby and that villian. But I agree that they all have the same stuff.

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    1. that is what I figured too so I didn't bother to watch the others. My kids weren't all that taken with them either. Now Madagascar 3 was hilarious!

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  3. I love 1 & 2 I get really leery with them pushing past that, we will not pay for it in the theater, despite the 3D. Just to bloody expensive. HECK rent it at home on the PS3 when it is released! CHEAP family fun and they can talk as loud as they want and be in their PJs and for that matter, I can be on the laptop at the same time and do not have to turn my phone of!

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