Ice Age
2002, Blue Sky Studios
Although it garnered quite respectable reviews, to me Ice Age felt like a lame also-ran. Most disappointing was the animation style, which seemed somewhat crude and simplistic for a CGI film produced in the 2000s. While the story delivered a nice emotional payoff, I just couldn't warm up to the main characters. But then there's Scrat, a brilliant creation who rescues the film from mediocrity. There just didn't seem to be enough of him.
DKS 12/17/17
GRUMPY OLD FART-O-METER® Rating:
Ice Age: The Meltdown
2006, Blue Sky Studios
Somebody at Blue Sky was paying attention, noticed that Scrat was the breakout character in Ice Age, and gave him a lot more screen time. Sadly, much as I love the little guy, he couldn't save the franchise from beginning a long, steady slide down the quality scale.
DKS 12/17/17
GRUMPY OLD FART-O-METER® Rating:
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
2009, Blue Sky Studios
The franchise continues its march toward the toilet, in spite of Scrat's best efforts. The trouble this time is the means by which dinosaurs are introduced was totally implausible—not that it matters; it's just a stupid cartoon. Even though Ice Age was outstaying its welcome, two more films were forthcoming.
DKS 12/17/17
GRUMPY OLD FART-O-METER® Rating:
Ice Age: Continental Drift
2012, Blue Sky Studios
Why Blue Sky didn't end the franchise sooner might be mystifying were it not for a startling fact: all of the films performed quite well at the box office. So, evidently it's some of us adults who don't appreciate them. Steadily improving animation wasn't enough to warrant investing an hour and a half for the fourth time.
DKS 12/17/17
GRUMPY OLD FART-O-METER® Rating:
Ice Age: Collision Course
2016, Blue Sky Studios
It was inevitable the franchise would eventually hit rock bottom, and it did so quite spectacularly. By this point it had devolved into a soulless Saturday morning kiddie cartoon, with Sid the Sloth playing the role of Jar Jar Binks; even Scrat seemed wrung dry. Yet it still managed to pull in over $400 million at the box office—which may well be why there's been talk of yet another sequel...
DKS 12/17/17
GRUMPY OLD FART-O-METER® Rating:
