Pre-History Marches On

Rating: 8/10 (16 April 2006)

The popular characters of "Ice Age," Sid, Manny, Diego and Scrat, are back in the sequel "Ice Age: The Meltdown." In this installment, the Ice Age is coming to an end as the great glaciers melt. But Manny the Mammoth (voiced by Ray Romano) isn't as worried about flooding as he is about becoming extinct. That's when he meets female mammoth Ellie (voiced by Queen Latifah). The movie displays the breathtaking visuals of the original "Ice Age." The story is not quite as good, though. Some things were corny, like the scene with the vultures' musical number that spoofs "Oliver!" But the comic antics of Scrat always satisfy. The sequel to "Ice Age" does not quite match the original, but it's still worth watching.