Yet again the mixture of knockabout humour for the kids and more sophisticated stuff for grown-ups is on the dot. The major strength at the centre of it all is a witty script.
Parenthood is the main theme we focus on in the film with those furry mammoths preparing for the arrival of their first born. Also, Sid the sloth gets anxious to have a family of his own. The bright colours and amazing graphics add the perfect touch to the film. As we go on soon enough we see Sid finding three king-sized eggs after he has a little stumble underneath some ice. He adopts them. When they hatch, it’s clear that Sid had blundered, big style because out pop three baby T-Rex. Against the advice of Manny, Sid tries to mother the trio until a peeved Mrs T-Rex shows up. As they face up to the enraged monster mom, who takes off with babies and Sid, Manny and Ellie, the mammoths, with the help of Diego the sabre-toothed tiger, launch a rescue mission that takes them deep into a subterranean lost world where dinosaurs are still living.
Down in the dino depths the motley crew are rescued by Buck, a one-eyed weasel who has been having a running battle with a war-scarred dino called Rudy. It’s all highly entertaining and filled with lots of inventive visual gaps...Such as Sid’s ride on the remains of a tree, or when the silly sloth takes parental duties over the line and attempts to milk a bull.
There is also a pterodactyl dogfight which is a stunning piece of animation. Lovers of the ‘Ice Age’ series will also be delighted to hear that Scrat is back, still trying to get to grips with the acorn while having a series of romantic interludes with a feisty female squirrel who can stretch her skin.
All in all, this film has the potential of being one of the greatest animation films ever. There is never a dull moment where you think your going to fall asleep in this film. If you haven’t yet watched this film, it is strongly recommended you watch this tremendously funny film! It’s sumptuous summer family fun, which suggests there is quite a bit to come yet, before the Ice Age really ‘Melts Down’.
Reviewed by Shahriar Ahmed