Review of Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) by Marissa A — 31 Dec 2012

This exciting and downright funny movie is just what the doctor ordered to fill a boring evening over the Christmas holidays with my kids. Like the 3rd one, and the 2nd before it, I find myself watching, amazed, as the characters are growing and learning together.

It's hard to decide which one was better, no. 2 or no. 3. As for no. 4, the voices are superb (FABULOUS Alain Chabat!!!), and the tour-de-force that is John Leguizamo has a Granny (HILARIOUS Wanda Sykes!!!)! This is real-life to most children: multi-cultural (a big bonus in my family, since my kids are Mexican-American), environmental disasters around every curve, problems fitting in with peers, extended family 'moving in,' and the whole lot of them surviving against all odds.

The soundtrack is modern, fun, and nothing if not energetic; perfect for kids and tweens! New characters (pirates) are bad guys and gals, but may be redeemed: the mark of a true family-friendly storytelling masterpiece.

My 9 year-old son was singing 'Captain Gutt's' (Peter Dinklage, the 'angry elf' children's story author in the Will Ferrell movie, Elf) song/shanty within a week. To be fair, we have been snowed in most of their vacation, so watching a fun, family-centered movie is not a bad thing.

Peaches' character is fleshed out, with crises of friendship, a 'hot' boy, and her uncommonly-cool Mom (Seriously, it's Queen Latifah). Ellie, the Mom mammoth we met in the 2nd movie, watches from far enough away to allow Peaches (IMPRESSIVE VOCALS by Keke Palmer, who I didn't know, but my 11 year-old daughter sure did!) the space and opportunities she needed, within reason, to figure out what the 'cool' kids are really like.

In one scene, she calmly lets her daughter sleep on the ground instead of with her in the tree, to give her the chance to grow a little. This scene, in particular, meant a lot to me. I have no complaints except, "Please don't make us wait too long for the fifth!".