Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
It has been four years since Mike Thurmeier delivered an installment in the Ice Age Franchise and along with him we have Writers Michael J. Wilson and Michael Berg returning in Ice Age: Collision Course is a perfect Sequel that the target audience will enjoy immensely. While some of the jokes and gags are geared to the parents and an older audience, which they will enjoy, the Film more grabs the children’s attention.
This Movie starts off with Scrat (Chris Wedge) as he puts the world that our heroes live in on a dangerous predicament trying to obtain his nut. Essentially, Scrat creates the universe and also manages to incinerate a planet and cause an asteroid to hurdle towards earth and take out everyone. However, while all of this is happening Manny (Ray Romano), Diego (Denis Leary) and Sid (John Leguizamo) along with their families which include Ellie (Queen Latifah), Shira (Jennifer Lopez), Granny (Wanda Sykes) and more, go on an adventure to celebrate new beginnings, anniversaries and the like. However while that is happening, Buck (Simon Pegg) manages to escape the prehistoric world beneath the ice and discovers the pending asteroid and warns the others as they all bands together to try and save themselves from pending doom.
What makes the Ice Age franchise so fun is the voice actors’ charisma and dedication to their roles. For instance, Ray Romano as the now-troubled father, comes across perfectly as his voice carries the tone and attitude of a worried dad, while someone like Denis Leary who plays Diego the saber-tooth tiger, has a more deep ominous voice to him that can be lent to something menacing while also endearing. Then you have John Leguizamo who always has fun with the role, and Simon Pegg who masks his voice so well you would never be able to tell that it was him. But then with Ice Age: Collision Course there are new characters introduced which add an increased energy to the Movie, like the voice work of Shangri Llama (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Brooke (Jessie J), plus the likes of Gavin (Nick Offerman) who characteristically is fun.
What makes Ice Age: Collision Course another solid addition to its Franchise is that it continues to build on the world it has created, add new characters, and it still manages to entertain the core audience and that is what matters. Will parents be slightly amused by the Film?Yes, but as long as the kids enjoy it, that is truly what matters.
20th Century Fox Canada release ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE in theatres on Friday, July 22, 2016.
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