"Ice Age: The Meltdown" is one of those sequels you knew would happen; the first film was such a hit at the box office that a continuation was virtually guaranteed. Of course, there's nothing wrong with that. Everything about the original "Ice Age" was well established, especially the fun, quirky characters of Sid the Sloth (John Leguizamo), Manny the Mammoth (Ray Romano), and Diego the Saber Tooth Tiger (Denis Leary). And let's not forget Scrat, the squirrel on a demonically obsessive mission for an acorn (which, if the comedy is to ensue properly, he can never obtain). For the sake of consistency (a plus for children), they all return for this second installment. While it is an inferior film, it's still quite enjoyable, with plenty of good moments that the whole family will get a kick out of.
In an attempt to show some sense of geographical and meteorological history, the story of this computer animated adventure revolves around the end of the last ice age, when global warming causes a majority of the continent-covering glaciers to melt. This is a major problem for the massive herd of animals living in a valley between two especially large glaciers, one of them acting as a dam, holding back enough water to fill the valley in a matter of minutes. This herd is led by Sid, who runs the area as a sort of getaway resort, with scores of guests using the melting ice to their advantage (they use the slopes as water slides). Initially, no one sees the looming danger, not even when the slick-talking armadillo con man Fast Tony (Jay Leno) tries to get everyone to buy underwater breathing devices (which are nothing more than hollow reeds).
Their opinions on the end of the world change when a vulture (Will Arnet) appears and tells them that a boat on the other side of the valley awaits them all. (Does anyone see the Biblical implications here?) His offer is tempting, but there's something a little off about his personality; he makes it a point to tell them that if they all decide to stay, he's in for a veritable buffet of carcasses. (Of course, the animals have yet to realize that danger also waits for them underwater; eventually, Manny and the gang will have to deal with a duo of aquatic carnivores that have voracious appetites.)
Despite the ominous circumstances of the vulture's visit, the animals decide that they have to leave if they want to survive. Thus begins the journey across the valley, the oddball team of Sid, Manny, and Diego being the most featured characters (obviously). Just as it was in the first movie, Manny is bitter and short tempered, only this time it's for a different reason: other animals have been telling him that he's the last of his kind, and he begins to fear they might be right. How can anyone be happy knowing that after they die, there will never be another one like them in existence? His thoughts are heavy and downtrodden until he meets Ellie (Queen Latifah), a mammoth who, because of her upbringing, thinks she's a possum. Initially, Manny is turned off by her identity crisis. Sid, being the ever annoying but well-intentioned friend that he is, continually tries to hook them up. I think he says it best in the one line prominently featured in the ads: "She's tons of fun; you're no fun at all. She completes you." |
