Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaur
Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven
In theatres this holiday weekend for the kids and kid at heart is the next installment from our frozen friends to the north with 20th Century Fox serving up of “Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaur”.
This film tells the story of Manny (voiced by Ray Romano) the Mammoth and picks up with his new love Ellie (Queen Latifah) as they are expecting their baby mammoth.
In for the excitement is Sid (John Leguizamo) with his usual bumbling and mayhem. Going through his own mid-ice age crisis is Diego (Dennis Leary) who isn’t up for the family thing and has the urge for adventure!
One day Sid bumbles through the ice and discovers three eggs and decides its time for him to be a Momma. Of course he forgot one small detail, the real Momma who happens to be a very large dinosaur who comes looking for her babies.
Sid gets swept away to a world beneath the ice and it is Manny and Ellie, along with her brothers Crash (Seann Williams Scott) and Eddie (Josh Peck) who must save Sid. Diego goes along for the ride to finally get the adventure he’s been looking for.
The world beneath is filled with lush valleys and all sorts of creatures. One creature in particular is Buck (Simon Pegg), a swashbuckling rogue who helps to find Sid and saves the others from the vicious Rudy.
In the end it becomes about friendship, loyalty and keeping the “herd” together – even an odd one such as theirs!
FINAL WORD: What can be said about this series of films that hasn’t already. It is truly delightful from the original “Ice Age” to this new installment. Romano is Manny and no one else could do it any better.
Leguizamo as Sid happens to be my personal favorite but merely because for as much bumbling as he does his heart is in the right place. Leguizamo has introduced such little nuances into this character that he to will forever be heard as Sid.
Leary is marvelous as Diego and he has become such a warm character even with such big teeth! Queen Latifah is definitely the mother of the crowd. She is strong yet with that furry softer underbelly she is a treat.
Pegg as Buck is just a laugh a minute so enjoy this new addition. Don’t worry Scrat fans, there is a lot more of your favorite snow-sniffing-acorn-hunting-furry-tailed-friend, but this time his heart is being captured!
Other voices include Bill Hader as Gazelle, Kelly Keaton as Mole Mom, Eunice Cho as Diatryma, Joey King as Beaver Girl and Maile Flannigan as Advark Mom.
TUBS OF POPCORN: I absolutely give “Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaur” three tubs of popcorn out of five. It has been a grand last few weeks of movie watching and this is just more delight. There is no doubt parent and kid will enjoy going to the movies together with this one.
It is shown in 3-D but it really doesn’t need it. In fact there are a few scenes that get a tad blurry with it. This film is just a good time to be had at the movies for a holiday weekend.
So go and be part of the herd again!
| 
