Film Review: "Ice Age: Continental Drift" (2012).

"When the Earth falls apart, history's greatest heroes will keep it together." This is Ice Age: Continental Drift. This computer-animated adventure comedy film directed by Steve Martino and Michael Thurmeier, written by Michael Berg and Jason Fuchs, and produced by Blue Sky Studios. It is the fourth installment of the Ice Age series and the sequel to Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009). The film follows Manny, Diego, and Sid as they 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.

In early January 2010, The New York Times reported that Blue Sky was working on a fourth film and was in negotiations with Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott, and Josh Peck set to reprise their roles. Originally, the story was rumored to involve Manny, Sid, Diego, Ellie, and Scrat frozen solid, and accidentally defrosted in a museum in present day. In early May, Fox confirmed that the film was set for a July 13, 2012 release date.

The film stars the voice talents of Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott, Josh Peck, and Chris Wedge reprise their roles alongside Keke Palmer, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Jennifer Lopez, Josh Gad, and Peter Dinklage. Has enough crisp sight gags, character moments, frantic mayhem and musical interludes to box the family crowd into a state of punch-drunk love. But I'm mystified by those who find these characters still appealing. I can't figure out how characters as great as Manny, Sid, Diego, and Scrat keeps ending up in movies like this.

Like it predecessor, Ice Age: Continental Drift throws its commitment to the era away with movie number four, a ploy sure to anger Ice Age purists everywhere. The film boasts some excellent animation, but its story is tired and monotonous. The film is much more of an emphasis on action in this nicely crafted, fast-paced sequel. The film's animation art is Seuss-imaginative, but the flatness of the story and indifferent voicework all the more obvious. Fantastic animation, lively dialogue and some terrific new characters spice up this franchise. It'll delight existing fans and probably win over some new ones too. The fourth part of the Ice Age saga suffers from franchise fatigue—the critters, most of whom we are familiar with from the past couple of films, and some that have been added in, don’t really get to do much that’s fresh and new. The quality of the stories has gradually declined in each succeeding sequel since the original film was released in 2002, but the technical quality of computer animation has improved during that same time. The film works on its own terms, as a distraction for the children and an inoffensive, if unfulfilling, time at the theater for their parents. While this latest Ice Age doesn't necessarily up the ante, this franchise is a very user-friendly one and a welcome sight for frazzled parents everywhere.

Simon says Ice Age: Continental Drift receives: