And to think it all starts so promisingly when Manny (Ray Romano), the woolly mammoth, shows the classic symptoms of being in a long-term relationship: forgetting his wedding anniversary. The problem though is wife Ellie (Queen Latifah) hasn’t. However, these issues are quickly and lazily resolved, so there can be time made for meaningless, even if moderately entertaining, gags. Manny also has trouble reconciling with the idea that his daughter Peaches (Keke Palmer) could potentially leave the family for boyfriend Julian (Adam DeVine). But director Mike Thurmeier shirks adult topics like parental insecurity to make way for cheap laughs that are drawn from suggesting that incoming meteors can be repelled by volcanos that regurgitate magnets. It is as bizarre as it sounds.
Like with a partner in a long-term relationship, we stick by a franchise through health and sickness in the hope that what it lacks in freshness, it will provide for in depth and meaning. In the case of Ice Age, the least those of us who have remained loyal despite unmistakable signs of steady deterioration, is a story that draws heavily from the evolution of its main characters, Manny, Sid and Diego. But in Ice Age: Collision Course, the fifth and hopefully the last in the franchise, the characters are nowhere near as fundamental to the proceedings as they once were. In fact, Diego (Dennis Leary), the sabre-toothed tiger, has all but gone extinct. The scenes that have him chatting with his wife Shira (Jennifer Lopez) about desiring children are half-hearted at best.
It’s apocalypse time for the pre-historic gang as they learn about a giant meteor all set to hit the earth, thus causing their extinction.
This meteor is a result of Scrat’s activities who accidentally sets things in motion.
In the meanwhile, while the herd is unaware of the upcoming disaster, Sid is dumped by his girlfriend Francine before he proposes to her.
Buck on the other hand finds a stone that is like a prophecy, mentioning the arrival of doomsday.
With all that’s happening, can Buck, Sid, Manny and Diego avert the calamity that reckons.
The hurtling asteroid, of course, is the handiwork of Scrat (Chris Wedge), who in continuing his epic struggle with his beloved acorn, redefines ‘all-consuming obsession’. Somehow, in the process, he manages to kickstart a series of disastrous spatial events that threaten earth’s existence. Scrat’s the first person on the moon, Scrat is the reason Mars is devoid of life, Scrat gave Saturn its rings… Scrat is almost Ice Age’s version of the Rajinikanth jokes. The character has generally excelled as an enjoyable distraction in previous Ice Age films, but in Collision Course, which sorely lacks meaning and depth, it almost begins to seem like a saving grace. The other’s Buck (Simon Pegg), the one-eyed weasel, whose craziness injects the film with the sort of energy that Sid (John Leguizamo), the ground sloth, fails to bring to the party. Perhaps the director knew that; perhaps that’s why Buck, like in our masala films, gets an opening song.
Collision Course isn’t a horrible film, mind you. It has its share of funny scenes—like when Sid, in the clutches of love, says, “I’m getting butterflies”, and Manny reacts with a Santhanam-like takedown: “I’m getting nauseous.” All of Scrat’s antics are enjoyable. Buck is a riot too, especially as Neil Debuck Weasel (Neil deGrasse Tyson), the astronomer inside Buck’s head who helps save the world. And no, that’s not a spoiler in these films.
Towards the end, there’s something about magnetic rocks getting dropped into a volcano, but I’d lost all patience and could only keep going back to that opening scene in which Sid shares his dating philosophy: “Love them and leave them.” Perhaps it’s time Blue Sky Studios applied that to the Ice Age franchise, unless… unless, we are talking about a full-length, silent film featuring Scrat and his acorn. That could be worth a shot, and remember, I called it here first.
Ice Age: Collision Course Review: Script Analysis
Ice Age Collision Course being the fifth film in the Ice Age franchise, one has to say that over the years the films have not been able to maintain their appeal.
Touted to be the last film of the franchise, the film surely does exceed its low expectations. Buck’s character gets to be the protagonist as he leads the team to save the world. A plethora of new characters have been introduced in the story and that slightly sidetracks you from the lead ones. Mainly, the story moves away from its main plot thanks to Manny’s sub-plot.
The writers try to maintain a good amount of balance between humor and drama. Of course, not always successful as Sid’s silliness in certain sections falls flat. His love story with Brooke, a new character is quite boring.
Also, the minor antagonists, the trio of flying dinosaurs are extremely disappointing.
Another thing that ticks is the character of Shangti Llama. With so much promised in the promo, the character’s limited screen time and poorly written lines fail to make the necessary impact.
Overall, the first Ice Age film that struck a chord with its emotional connect, matures with its fifth installment as the new film deals with varied themes. Trust and the need to letting go off things with time is what the film preaches on the way.
