★☆☆☆☆
Being the fifth film in the animated feature film franchise, Ice Age: Collision Course reprises fans’ favourite characters for yet another prehistoric adventure. Featuring all-time popular Scrat and his acorn, the filmmakers have allowed him to wreak havoc in the universe – resulting in the Big Bang (where planets are knocked about like billiard balls).
Yes, it’s one of those scripted excuses to bring the ensemble back to greet the summer cinema audience. Filled with loads of physical comedy that is only capable of inducing giggles from toddlers, teenagers and adults will not find themselves to be willing members of its target audience.
This marks the most distinctive difference between this Blue Sky Studios production and that of established studios like Pixar Animation and DreamWorks Animation. The storytelling technique found in recent successful animated feature films have been fascinating adult viewers. Ice Age: Collision Course lacks a good story and deep character development – only to amuse the really young ones among the audience.
Nevertheless, it is still heartening to see essential coming-of-age messages such as how mammoth couple Mannie (Ray Romano) and Ellie (Queen Latifah) are feeling reluctant to part with their daughter Peaches (Keke Palmer) who’s about to get married.
Also family-friendly are sabre-tooth tiger Diego (Denis Leary) and his girlfriend Shira (Jennifer Lopez) trying to pick up parenting traits. It is relatively apt for the filmmakers to have a pair of sabre-tooth tigers trying to appear approachable to children – as they are natural predators.
Sid (John Leguizamo) the sloth tries his hand at finding true love, which sadly serves as mere plot fills to keep the gags and giggles going.
“So many sights, so little vision.”
Much like how Buck (Simon Pegg) the one-eyed weasel said in one of the forgettable scenes, it is actually the best description of Ice Age: Collision Course.
With a weak plot and too much superficial slapstick gags, co-directors Mike Thurmeier and Galen T. Chu along with their team of screenwriters might provide some entertainment for the gullible ones. They may also leave matured viewers with nothing much to hold on to and frustratingly disappointed at what the franchise has become at its fifth iteration.
Also published on InCinemas.sg
cineJay 