Ice Age: Collision Course - Movie Review

Rating: 3 out of 5

With its fifth feature-length adventure, this franchise continues its preposterous journey at full tilt. As before, it's the zippy writing, lively vocal work and colourful animation that hold the interest. The story is merely a framework on which the cast and crew can hang a series of rapid-fire jokes, pop culture references and nonsensical action sequences. And it's still mindless fun.

After their previous escapades, the expanding herd of prehistoric critters is living a happy life together, thinking about love. Mammoths Manny and Ellis (voiced by Ray Romano and Queen Latifah) are struggling with the idea that their daughter Peaches (Keke Palmer) has fallen for the too-cheerful Julius (Adam DeVine). Sid the sloth (John Leguizamo) has just been dumped and feels like he'll never find a partner. And tigers Diego and Shira (Denis Leary and Jennifer Lopez) worry that their violent nature will make them terrible parents. Then suddenly there's a bigger issue to worry about: a giant asteroid is heading for Earth, threatening them with extinction. With the help of nutty weasel Buck (Simon Pegg), they come up with an idea to save the planet. They also discover a magical place called Geotopia, ruled by the groovy Shangri Llama (Jesse Tyler Ferguson).

Yes, the plot is utterly insane, especially as it is driven by the antics of franchise star Scrat, who discovers a flying saucer in the ice, activates it and heads into space, where his acorn-hunting antics trigger all sorts of mayhem back on Earth. But then this series has never had anything to do with science or biology, throwing random animals together (the dinosaurs make another appearance) for comical value while cranking up whatever suspense the writers can think of to add some momentum. They also of course pack scenes with sweet "family values" moments, plus a sideswipe at climate change deniers who refuse to acknowledge the possibility of impending doom.

The main attraction here is the growing voice cast, comics who are adept at creating characters who are endearing and amusing. The movie is hilarious all the way through, and director Mike Thurmeier adds a continual stream of witty visual gags, using the 3D to great effect. But it's difficult to escape all of the nagging problems with this franchise, from the dodgy prehistoric timeline to the fact that the only thing of any interest for these animals is to find true love, get married and have children. Even the youngest viewers will see through this, although they'll be too busy laughing to care.

Rich Cline

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Facts and Figures

Year: 2016

Genre: Animation

Run time: 94 mins

In Theaters: Friday 22nd July 2016

Production compaines: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Reviews

Contactmusic.com: 3 / 5

IMDB: 6.3 / 10

Cast & Crew

Director: Mike Thurmeier

Producer: Lori Forte

Screenwriter: Michael Wilson, Michael Berg, Yoni Brenner

Starring: John Leguizamo as Sid (voice), Keke Palmer as Peaches (voice), Denis Leary as Diego (voice), Ray Romano as Manny (voice), Wanda Sykes as Granny (voice), Jennifer Lopez as Shira (voice), Stephanie Beatriz as Gretie (voice), Melissa Rauch as Francine (voice), Simon Pegg as Buck (voice), Nick Offerman as (voice), Max Greenfield as Roger (voice), Adam DeVine as Julian (voice), Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Shangri Llama (voice), Neil deGrasse Tyson as Neil deBuck Weasel (voice), Michael Strahan as Teddy (voice), Jessie J as Brooke (voice), Chris Wedge as Scrat (voice), Otto Waalkes as Sid (Stimme)

Also starring: Queen Latifah, Lori Forte, Michael Wilson, Michael Berg