ICE AGE 2: THE MELTDOWN

by Jane Louise Boursaw

Should you bring the kids? Yes! There are a few sad moments, tense scenes, and innuendoes (most notably between Manny and his new love interest), but overall, this is an entertaining movie for kids aged six and older. For more info, see "Bringing the Kids" below.

THE STORY: Our old friends from 2002's "Ice Age" are back, and they're on the move again. This time, the ice age is coming to an end, and all the critters are delighting in their new world – a melting paradise of water parks, geysers, and tar pits.

But danger looms. The glacial dam that's holding all the water back is ready to burst, and when that happens, the valley will be flooded with water. The animals' only chance for survival lies at the other end of the valley, where it's rumored there's a boat big enough to hold everyone.

So all the animals, including our beloved heroes – Manfred, the moody Mammoth (Ray Romano); Diego, the devilish saber-toothed tiger (Denis Leary); and Sid, the smooth-talking sloth (John Leguizamo) – embark on a mission to save themselves.

Although they're all moving together, each character has its own storyline. Manny gets a fun-loving girlfriend named Ellie (Queen Latifah), who thinks she's a possum. She brings along her two adopted brothers – possums Crash (Seann William Scott) and Eddie (Josh Peck of "Drake and Josh"). Sid becomes a "fire god" to a group of cultish sloths. And Diego must learn how to conquer his fear of water.

And Scrat, that frantic, acorn-crazy squirrel, makes another appearance, too, starring in his own counter-storyline as the movie progresses. 

THE WRAP-UP: This movie has much the same "feel" as the original "Ice Age," with a mix of funny, sad, and perilous moments. The characters feel like old friends we haven't seen in a while, and it's nice to see Manny, Sid and Diego working together as a team.

But the real star of the movie is Scrat, who can't seem to catch a break when it comes to that just-out-of-reach acorn. I got the feeling that the audience in the theater was just biding time through the main storyline until Scrat's scenes came back on.

BRINGING THE KIDS:

PRESCHOOLERS (ages 2-5): This movie has lots of action, but kids younger than six will probably get antsy during the slower parts. Also, some scenes are unsuitable for preschoolers: vultures and sea monsters stalk the animals on their journey; the melting ice makes for some hairy situations; there's some implied sex-talk between Manny and Ellie; and there's plenty of potty humor and mild language, apparently required by a PG rating.

GRADE-SCHOOLERS (ages 6 - 10): For all the reasons mentioned above, I do not recommend this movie for kids younger than six. There's also a sad flashback scene where we learn how Ellie lost her family ("It made my eyes water," said my 8-year-old daughter's friend). That said, this movie also has some good messages: everyone has their own gifts; friends can help you overcome your fears; and you don't have to all be the same (or even the same species) to be a family.

TWEEN / TEEN (ages 11+): This movie is really geared for younger kids, but Manny's new love interest does provide a bit more "grown-up" content than the first movie. Tweens and teens will probably "get" the laughs culled from Manny's inept wooing techniques.

SCORE: 3 out of 4 Reels.

Jane's Reel Rating System:
One Reel: Pathetic. Even The Force can’t save it.
Two Reels: Tolerable. Coulda been a contender.
Three Reels: Thought-provoking. Something to talk about.
Four Reels: Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

E-chat with me at jane@reellifewithjane.com - I LOVE to talk about movies!

Read my other reviews here.