Cool ICE AGE gets a warm reception.

Rating: 10/10 (15 March 2002)

Fox has had a hard time with animated features. ANASTASIA did moderately well; TITAN AE did not. But with ICE AGE, they may finally have their foot firmly in the door.
The animation: Okay, maybe Blue Sky won't dethrone Pixar or PDI anytime soon. But make no mistake, ICE AGE is a visual marvel still. It fits the story perfectly: alternately cartoonish and detailed when it needs to be. (It's not ALWAYS necessary to see every strand of hair on a creature's body.)
Voices and characters: One of the best things about the film. The characters are quite memorable, and the vocal performances are great. Others have objected to Ray Romano's performance as Manfred the mammoth, but I felt that his deadpan delivery was just right to portray the strong, yet emotionally wounded loner. Denis Leary makes Diego a cool cat, whether he's bad or good. But the best vocal performance goes to John Leguizamo, who is simply hilarious as Sid. He makes Sid immediately endearing rather than irritating.
And then there's Scrat, the saber-toothed squirrel whose antics with an acorn open, close, and serve as the transitional elements of the film. He's a miniature Wile E. Coyote to his acorn's Road Runner. You know he's gonna get it, but you just gotta cheer for--and laugh at--the guy.
But the success of a film ultimately comes down to its script. The trailers make this film out to be hilarious, and it is. But what a nice surprise to find out there is more to it than mere comedy. It's a testament to the talents of director Chris Wedge and the writers that you will laugh hard one minute and have a tear in your eye the next. They also know when dialogue is not needed, which is commendable.
ICE AGE has the potential to be a big hit. It's got one of the best ad campaigns in years, no Disney competition on opening weekend, and on top of that, it has a solid story with endearing characters. I hope it will be a film for the ages.