Movie Information
Release Date: July 22, 2016
Directors: Galen T. Chu, Mike Thurmeier
Writer: Michael J. Wilson, Michael Berg, Yoni Brenner
Cast: Stephanie Beatriz, Robert Cardone, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Adam Devine, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Max Greenfield, Jessie J, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Jennifer Lopez, Jorge Lucas, Andrew Christopher Nichols, Nick Offerman, Keke Palmer, James Palumbo, Josh Peck, Simon Pegg, Carlos Ponce, Melissa Rauch, Casey M. Roberts, Ray Romano, Seann William Scott, Matthew Simmons
MPAA Rating: PG
Runtime: 94 minutes
Production Company: Blue Sky Studios, Twentieth Century Fox Animation, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Language: English
Country: USA
Budget: N/A
Ice Age: Collision Course makes the fifth chapter in the Ice Age franchise, which means these things keep on making money. There’s great appeal to be had by children for such creatures that grace the screen, though I know none of them myself. This was my first viewing of any of the Ice Age films, and I got exactly what I expected, a semi-fun adventure of characters having to come together for the greater good. Seems like we’ve seen that so many times, but the film must be doing something right, because the audience keeps on coming back.
From much of the marketing material on television and billboards, most are familiar with the character Scrat. He’s the animal always chasing the acorn and making a big mess wherever he goes. He wasn’t that appealing in the marketing material for the film, and he’s not that appealing in the film either. His level of annoyance is up there with Jar-Jar Binks from Star Wars. There are other characters to love, like Sid (John Leguizamo) and another character whose biology has left me. Sid just had that perfect sensitive personality that you can’t help but love, and is one reason I didn’t fall asleep during this runtime.
There was barely anything to hold on to during the film. There was no reason to care about the characters or what their mission was. I’m not sure if that’s from me not seeing the previous four films, or from the characters and story being completely weak. At no point did I care about the outcome for the characters, except for at the end when everyone decided to be a team. But once that decision was made many distractions kept getting the team off course instead of where they were most needed. That would’ve worked in the film if it was developing a side plot, but it just felt like a distraction to meet a theatrical runtime.
Ice Age: Collision Course is strictly for kids. Even if you’re bored with nothing to do and all the money in the world, it’s strongly suggested you spend your time elsewhere. Though you may have fallen in love with the characters from the first four films making you feel like this is a family. If that’s the case, go for it. But if this is your first time watching the franchise and you’re wanting to give it a shot, you may find yourself wishing you could go back in time to change your mind.