Ice Age: Continental Drift

**Ice Age: Continental Drift** is a 2012 3D computer animated comedy action film directed by Steve Martino and Mike Thurmeier. It's the fourth installment of the Ice Age franchiseThe Wild (2006).

## Why it's underrated

* Excellent humor, like the previous Ice Age movies.
* Great animation, a big improvement over the already great animation of the previous three movies.
* The story, even though a bit absurd due to the fact that was caused by Scrat, is decent and it's actually compelling and interesting with a fast rhytme.
* The characters, especially Manny, are still likeable, mantaining the charm they had in the first three movies. The Pirates, Louis and Granny are also well written characters and great addictions to the franchise.
* The voice casting is really good, thanks to all the voice cast of the previous movies reprising their roles and new addictions like Peter Dinklage as Gutt.
* Well executed action scenes, like the scene where they steal the ship from the Pirates or the Sirens scene.
* It brought new elements to the franchise and furthermore explored very well the Ice Age world.
* The animation is impressive
* The main characters from the predecessors are still likable and put in a new and original light, Diego in particular where we see how much he evolved and how much he felt confused by turning his back on everything he knew.
* Sid's Granny is a good character and a great comic relief with Wanda Sykes doing a great job voicing her.
* It continues Manny's character development and actually concludes his PTSD caused by the death of his old family
* Just like the second and third film focused more on Manny and Sid, this film focuses more on Diego.
* Having this movie somewhat darker and scarier than the other movies is an admirable move on the filmmakers's part.
* The film has a lot of respect for the franchise, the first film especially
* Shira is a great character and a strong female protagonist, Jennifer Lopez does also a great job voicing her.
* The humor is funny and clever, still having the sarcastic humor the first three movies had.
* Great soundtrack composed by John Powell
* Gutt is an entertaining antagonist who keep the stakes high for a big part of the film. Differently than the first three movie's villains he actually has an active role in the film and what makes him stand out among Ice Age villains is that he actually develop a true rivalry with Manny as he serves as his evil counterpart and he's practically a recall to the human hunters that killed Manny's old family especially when at the end of the film he's about to make Manny live the same traumaring experience when he plots to kill his beloved ones right before his eyes. Plus Peter Dinklage does a great job at voicing him.
* The relationship between Manny and his daughter Peaches is heartwarming.
* The ending is really emotional especially when Manny reconciles with Peaches.
* The scene of the sirens is funny at the parts of Sid, Granny and Manny.
* Emotional and heartbreaking moments, notably when Manny looks desperately at his family trying to reach them but gets kicked away by the ice breaking, as well as when Manny believes that his family died and mourns quietly and even Granny cries.
* Ellie takes the forefront as a badass action girl leading the animals of the valley towards the land bridge to save them from being crashed by the ice walls.
* The climatic battle between the Herd and Gutt's henchmen, as well as the battle of Manny against Gutt, is amazing.
* The idea of adding more mammoths was creative
* Decent voice acting, like Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary and Queen Latifah reprising their roles
* Despite being inferior to the first three movies, the film is still good and better than Collision Course.
* Scrat is still hilarious and his subplot where he searches for Scratlantis is funny and creative.
* ances and sing while the credits rolls is really well done and at times funny which feels like a conclusion to the Ice Age franchise. Plus We Are Family is a catchy song.

## Bad Qualities

* Nickie Minaj and Drake's characters were unnecessary.
* It's inferior compared to the first three movies.
* The sirens are too creepy and can scare children.
* Pirates in the Ice Age feel a little out of place.
* Despite still being a likeable character, Sid's flanderization slightly started in this movie as he don't have smart moments differently than the first three movies.
* The fact that Scrat caused the Continental Drift makes the movie seem stupid and kinda makes him dislikeable.
* The film lacks of the phreistoric feel the first three films had.
* It still didn't give Scrat his happy ending
* It got ruined by the sequel that came after this film, Ice Age: Collision Course.
* The subplot of the Teen Mammoths can be a bit boring and the inclusion of Drake and Nicki Minaj felt unnecessary due to the fact their characters barely have an important role in the movie.