Well produced, but criminally short on content and originality.

Rating: 6/10 (29 February 2004)

Computer animation is merely a tool. Like all tools the tool actually creates nothing without human intervention and while they may be key to getting something done (this sort of 3D technique is relatively new) they are not a force by themselves. Only a new genre. Here a (talking) comic sloth, a stern mammoth and a slick mountain tiger work together to return a lost baby to its tribe. Well sort-of, but don't let me spoil one of the few lines of plot development for you!
Boy is this thin and well trodden stuff. When two people can't stand each other in films you can be sure that ten minutes down-the-line they will be the best of pals, ready to die for one another. Shame real life isn't like that!
Cliches are not cliches for nothing and the script writers haven't left anything obvious out - bar maybe a musical number, which would have at least been some light relief.
I am reminded of a well known gag that Woody Allen once quoted in a movie about two old women in a restaurant. One says "isn't the food here terrible." And the other says "yes, and such small portions." This is far from terrible - indeed it is not at all bad - but the portions are too small: Character introduction - journey - climax.
There should have been far more, but in this type of animation every second counts and every extra second shaves a point off the box office income!
Glad I didn't pay for it though and anyone seeing it at a cinema better get a small popcorn or they will be still eating it on the way home.