The Quest to Return a Lost Child

Rating: 9/10 (3 April 2006)

I have a soft spot for animated movies because even the lesser effective ones (HOODWINKED) have their own magic even when either their very story, overall composition, or continuity may bog it down. And due to the fact that they're aimed at the younger audience, it's become a staple that these films -- deemed "safe" -- have a simple plot allegorical in nature with clearly defined characters, comic interludes, a frightful chase sequence involving the main character(s), and a character that either switches sides from bad to good or from weak to strong which comes in at the crucial climactic, dramatic moment where a resolution is needed. It goes back to the days of Disney and BAMBI.
ICE AGE is no different. It follows these elements closely in the story of Manfred the woolly mammoth, Sid the sloth, and Diego, a saber-toothed tiger, who due to circumstances not of their own making come together to return a child back to its parents. Throughout the way they will come closer even though the tiger may not have clear intentions with the child, and there is a truly beautiful scene when Manfred comes upon some cave drawings made by humans in which he sees the tragic story of his own breed. We see it too -- from Manfred's point of view. Both we and Manfred react the same way: with a sad feeling of irony.
A very good movie that may appeal to young and old, ICE AGE benefits from the vocal personalities of its cast: Ray Romano brings likability to Manfred, John Leguizamo is great as the goofy Sid, and most of all Denis Leary, with his gravelly low menace of a voice, does a sharp turn as the conflicted, dangerous Diego. A cute story adds a little padding to the movie and exists in its own universe: a little squirrel trying to get his nut -- watch the end credits, which intended or not, sort of foreshadow the title of its sequel.