FRED Watch Quickie Film Review: Ice Age (2002)
ICE ICE BABY!
I’m a Fulya Kantarmaci and welcome to FRED Watch, where we review everything from the mainstream to the obscure. Today’s film is Ice Age…
Blue Sky Studios / 20th Century Fox Animation / 20th Century Fox
A woolly mammoth, a sloth, and a sabretoothed tiger save a human baby and have to reunite him with his tribe. An adventure of epicly cold proportions where these three animals have no choice but to work together. Oh, did I mention a sabretoothed squirrel causes an avalanche?
Ladies, gentlemen, and all other mammals, welcome to the ice age! Except, instead of migrating down south where it will be warmer, how about we travel north? No? Well, I guess we won’t be following Manny (Ray Romano) then because he would rather go north than south it seems (and we don’t know why). Following this big mammoth is a clumsy sloth named Sid (John Leguizamo), who was left behind by his family and the rest of the animals. Manny makes it clear to Sid that he wants to be left alone. Sid doesn’t understand the concept of being alone so he sticks by Manny anyway.
Later, we find out that tigers attacked the humans’ camp in which a mother was separated from and had to run in a different direction in order to save her baby son’s life. Jumping down a waterfall, she is swept away and manages to hold onto a rock, and comes across Manny and Sid. She pushes her tightly-wrapped baby towards Manny with her last bit of strength and Manny holds onto him. The moment Sid and Manny look up, the mother has disappeared into the water—queue sad music.
One of the tigers from the pack that attacked the humans is named Diego (Denis Leary). After failing to capture the baby as stated in a revenge plot by the pack leader Soto (Goran Višnjić), Diego is sent off to find and retrieve the baby as punishment. He finds the baby in the possession of Manny and Sid, so he cooks up a plan to set them up. Diego convinces them he can help track down the humans better and quicker than either of them. Little do Manny and Sid know, they were about to face some serious problems.
This film is a lot of fun and has a lot of heart in it as well. Following these mammals through their adventure always brings a smile to my face. The cast is amazing and I couldn’t have picked it better myself! Romano really brings Manny to life with, as director Chris Wedge describes, a voice that is ‘deep and slow in delivery, but also with a sarcastic wit behind it.’ Leguizamo is hilarious as Sid! His comedic timing is awesome and the character always manages to make me laugh during the slapstick and physical humour scenes.
Leary’s take on Diego is also great! His voice sounds like it belongs to a sabertoothed tiger with a hint of sincerity which isn’t something you’d expect from the character. And let’s not forget Scrat; a sabertoothed squirrel that just wants to hide his acorn. Although Scrat doesn’t speak during the film, he almost steals the show. Director Wedge voices this little naïve animal and it’s literally just screams, sighs, and other squirrel-like sound effects. It’s funny to see how Scrat begins and then ends the film.
I highly recommend watching Ice Age with friends and family. The kids will love it as well! And remember, beware of the taek-won-dodos! 4½ / 5
Starring: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Chris Wedge, Goran Višnjić, Jack Black, Diedrich Bader, Alan Tudyk, Cedric the Entertainer, Stephen Root, Jane Krakowski, Lorri Bagley, Tara Strong.
Director: Chris Wedge | Writers: Michael Berg, Michael J. Wilson, Peter Ackerman; Story: Michael J. Wilson | Producer: Lori Forte | Music: David Newman | Editor: John Carnochan
Available: DVD.
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