Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs 3-D - 1.5 out of 4 Stars

Who Would Love This Movie: Children under the age of 10, people who would like to see an animated film in the style of "Not Another Teen Movie"

Best Mood to Walk In With: Easily entertained

Don't See This Movie If: You are looking for a clever sequel in the tender and funny style of the first Ice Age


I'm sure you can tell I wasn't head over heels in love with Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. I think this movie would entertain my 6 and 4 year old Godsons easily, but I don't think it is one that their parents would overly enjoy or be a family classic that is watched ever Friday night. There are some cheap laughs, but most of the script is regurgitated lines from other more clever movies. Although the script is original, the majority of jokes are social parody-like a la the Scary Movie franchise. The best example of this is when Buck the weasel picks up a rock and starts to talk into it like it's a cell phone. It is normal animated movie reality that animals can talk, but it is incongruent that a talking animal from the Ice Age knows about cell phones. Like I said, cheap laughs.

Anyway, the animation and 3-D effects are average for a big animated feature. As with most of the 3-D movies I've seen lately, if you're trying to save money I don't think much would be lost if you saw Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs in 2-D.

Looking at the cast of voices featuring Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Seann William Scott, Bill Hader, and Simon Pegg, you would think it would be an impressive ensemble. Sadly, there is no richness of emotion or character in the voices that set it apart from any other film. In terms of the characters' voices, this is NOT a Toy Story where Tom Hanks's dulcet tones and Tim Allen's rough barks set the tone for the visuals. Leary sounds weary, Romano is dull, and Latifah sounds completely different from everyone else in the cast. Although Leguizamo always brings the laughs as lisping Sid, unfortunately his and Pegg's voices aren't enhanced by clever lines.

Keep Your Eyes Closed For: The scene where a "dead" bird is about to be fed to the baby dinosaurs surprised me in a flick for youngsters
Keep Your Eyes Open For: There's a cute scene where Manny shows Ellie the nursery he made for their unborn child

All in all, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is not bad at all for a film meant to entertain children, but Night at the Museum is a much more fun romp. It's equally silly, but it can also save you money by being at the dollar theater. After all, we ARE in a recession. ;-)

Movies Are Life. ~ K