Just another segment of the "Ice Age" franchise, the fourth instalment
offers a great time for families, and is hilarious. In these epic adventures
there is more going on then characters to consider not necessarily a good thing
but it is new? The basis starts off like this; after protecting a human child,
avoiding a meltdown, and surviving dinosaurs, the super continent of Pangeaea
is separating into today's continents. All this is caused by the possessed
Scrat the ever troubling squirrel on its endless quest to acquire its prized golden
acorn. This causes the continents to separate to what we now recognize as
countries.
The main characters are separated in groups and are the plot line
for the story. Manny is separated from his family (wife Ellie and now-grown
daughter Peaches). Manny, along with sloth Sid, saber-toothed tiger Diego, and
Sid's Granny, stranded on a tiny iceberg adrift, attempt to return back.
Meanwhile, the moving landmass’s force the second group; Ellie, Peaches and the
other animals to head to a land bridge. In this film there are evil doers …….,
Pirates! And there Captain in command Gutt. Sid, Manny and Diego experience a
whole lot more action scenes than the previous adventures.
The films fillings are sub-plots like Diego’s crush on Captain Gutt's soldiers,
Shira a prehistoric sabertooth tiger. Diego heroically saves her life but the
characters are not as developed as before and are lost in the continuity.
Continental Drift is a family movie indeed and somewhat try’s to please the
entire family with inner lines for the adults and cartoon humor for the
children. There’s not one but dual love stories in this fourth version Ethan
(the vintage casting mammoth) whom, Louis (a mole hog) and (Manny, Ellie's
19-year-old daughter), and Peaches (voiced by recording artist Drake). While
this is indeed the most action-packed yet, the story revolves to much and feels
uncoordinated. This installment lacks subplots as one can image it is a more of
a Sunday television series condensed into a film with new and old star voices
galore all including;. Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, and Queen
Latifah return for their roles as (Manny, Sid, Diego and Elie). Keke Palmer
fills in the role of Manny and Ellie's teenage stubborn daughter Peaches. Some
of today's hottest recording artists are also here. Rapper Drake fills in the
voice of Ethan opposite Nicki Minaj provides the voice of Steffie (mammoths).
Although the films lacks the sentiment and emotional relations that the
first films contained there is much random entertaining humor. In "Continental
Drift" we meet a variation of new species in attempt to add a spice and
new feeling to the series. There is a kangaroo, wild boar, ape, rabbit, badger,
elephant seal, a Blue-footed Booby, and well much more. The majority of them
being in Gutt's entourage as for a plot twist we meet for the first time Sid's
estranged family. They have one mantra to dispose "crazy" Granny for
Sid before they escaped because Granny can be is a little bit of a weight to
the family. But she actually makes an impact in the storyline and is the films
ever so climatically turning point.
In relation to the mass character line-up the
animations never fail and are very fluid throughout. This is a significant
improvement over the previous three installments. The 3D version works although
it isn't a must but probably preface for the kids. "Continental
Drift" may not be a worthy follow-up to the previous instalments but it
promises to be a great fun time in the theatres for families. It's hilarious
and the most action-packed entry of the series yet. It’s a family movie not a
drama film. It may not compare to the brilliant originality of its predecessor
but "Continental Drift" makes good for weekend family time.
