Movie Review
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This Week's PCR Movie Review |
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"Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs"
Movie review by: Movies are rated 0 to 4 stars
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In 2002 we were introduced to Manny the Mammoth, Sid the Sloth, Diego the Sabretoothed Tiger and Scrat the…..well, I’m still not sure what Scrat is (squirrel? rat?). They took us on an adventure in “Ice Age” that was memorable both for its story and its visual beauty. Four years later we found them still together, this time adding lady Mammoth Ellie to their “herd.” Now we find them still together, but this time there are a few more additions on the horizon. Does the word “dinosaurs” in the title give you a hint?
As we rejoin the “herd,” we find Manny (Romano) with a bad case of the jitters. His mate Ellie (Latifah) is due to have a baby any day now and Manny is on pins and needles. He has done his best to safeguard his upcoming offspring, going so far as to put snowballs on the ends of branches (to keep from being poked one can only assume). Of course, this upcoming miracle is anything but for Sid (Leguizamo) and Diego (Leary), who are beginning to feel like third wheels among the expectant family. Of course things all change when Sid comes across three eggs he finds buried in an underground ice chamber. When the eggs hatch, Sid finds he has become the “mother” of three baby T-Rex dinosaurs. However, no matter how many times he tries to keep them vegetarian, Sid realizes that, even though he’s a hard working “single mother of three,” he won’t be able to keep them from being what they are. Which brings our pals in contact with dinosaurs, quite a feat since the dinosaurs were extinct long before our frozen and furry friends came along. But this is entertainment, not history, so who’s keeping score.
Once again, the creators of the original “Ice Age” have turned the reigns over to their protégés in animation to create a world so beautiful that you long to reach out and touch it. Director Saldanha assisted on the first film and took over the reigns on “Ice Age 2.” He certainly knows how to get the most out of what he’s given. The characters move with great fluidity and the dinosaurs, especially mama T-Rex rival anything you’d find in “Jurassic Park.” The cast has grown into their characters and their familiarity with each other comes out on screen. I’ve never watched “Everybody Loves Raymond” (apparently I didn’t at the time) but I really enjoy Romano's voice. He gives Manny the wisdom he needs to lead the way. And like Queen Latifah in the last film, another new character joins the gang, Buck, an adventurous weasel voiced by the always funny Simon Pegg. And for those of you worried about Scrats fixation with his nut, you’ll be happy to know that even the strangest looking….whatever….can find true love.
A fine addition to what is now a great family trilogy, I give “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” 
This week's movie review of "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" is ©2009 by Michael A. Smith. All graphics this page are creations of Nolan B. Canova, ©2009, all rights reserved. All contents of "Nolan's Pop Culture Review" are ©2009 by Nolan B. Canova.
