Reviews Corner

My son and I had the privilege to watch Ice Age 3 on 3D during the launch of TriNoma’s Digital 3D Cinema last Thursday. In this sequel, mammoths Manny and Ellie are expecting their first born. As busy as Manny getting everything ready for their newborn, even “baby proofing” nature, as Ellie said, his friends, Sid the sloth and Diego the tiger have their own issues to deal with. Diego thought that Manny is hopelessly domesticated by this “family thing” and is on his way to migrate, while Sid feels insecure and wants to be a parent too.

In his quest to be a parent himself, Sid got attached to dinosaur eggs instead of pursuing a lady sloth partner. This is where the trouble begins. Mother dinosaur T.Rex came stomping to their place looking for her babies. They also got to meet the invincible one eyed weasel named Buck. What I love about Ice Age 3 is that it reinforces the value of family. That it is not uncool to be domesticated, even as Diego himself realizes at the end of Sid’s rescue, that the life of adventure he is looking for, is right in the family setting.

As good as the story line of Ice Age 3 is, as with other Hollywood movies, even cartoons cannot escape the sexual suggestions in some scenes. I understand that the writers find it important that the movie caters to adults as well. Like for instance, the sequence when Manny was with Diego inside the man-eating plant and Diego said to Manny that he felt “tingly” and the mammoth replied that he should not say that when he is pressed up against him. It stunned me for a while when this line came in. Although, the audience Ice Age 3 makers are generally aiming at family and kids, a few nonsense has to be thrown into the story just to earn a few laughs.

Personally, I had my qualms about Ice Age ever since my son suddenly started saying, “stupid” whenever he is having a hard time wearing his shirt on his own. This surprised the husband and me because we do not use that word in our home. When I asked him where he learned that word, he said, Ice Age 2. Apparently, my sister has been allowing him to watch Ice Age 2 from her iTouch whenever he goes to their place. Although it might not be a big deal in America to be saying such things, it is not exactly something we would like our son to get used to saying. In this particular sequel, they did it again with the name calling, “idiot.”

Again, a few movies are perfect. But then again, the story of Ice Age 3 does remind the young minds how important family is. How selflessness is required of members in the family. What works for us is we zero in on the good stuff and remind our son about certain portions of the movie that are really good, like the part when it reinforces the teamwork that we already do in our home.

Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is a good movie. 3 out of 5 stars.

Tags: buck, ice age, ice age 3, Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, mammoth manny and ellie, TriNoma’s Digital 3D Cinema