Great animation and some nice characters, but perhaps a sequel too far

Rating: 6/10 (17 August 2012)

I really liked the first Ice Age film, enjoyed the second but was mixed on the third. I loved Mammoth Christmas and Continental Crack-Up though. I do consider Ice Age: Continental Drift the weakest of the series with the sense that it was a sequel too far and that the franchise was flagging. However it is not a bad movie. The animation is absolutely great, the scenery is just gorgeous and the colours very vibrant. The characters are also modelled very well. The music score is beautiful and rousing on the whole, there are a couple of amusing moments- the beginning is a riot- and there are some nice characters. Scrat continues to steal every scene he's in and Sid and Granny are a real delight. Captain Gutt is a nice addition also. The voice actors do fine jobs, Peter Dinklage is deliciously evil, Ray Romano and Dennis Leary are just as strong and John Leguizamo is hilarious. Conversely, the story is weak on the whole, thin on the ground and sometimes drags, while the script lacks wit and freshness. Peaches I didn't care for as a character either, coming across as stereotypical and bratty. Last but not least, the musical number, not only was it awfully written with a rushed melody and unfunny lyrics but there was absolutely no need for it to be there in the first place. Overall, not bad but didn't wow me. I do think they should stop here before the standard gets worse. 6/10 Bethany Cox