Monday, July 11, 2016

Review of ICE AGE 5: COLLISION COURSE: Fatigued Franchise

July 10, 2016




The Ice Age franchise produced by Blue Sky Studios began in 2002 with the film "Ice Age" which introduced us to a gang of prehistoric mammals friends during the Paleolithic Ice Age. They were a talkative sloth named Sid (John Leguizamo), a cautious mammoth named Manny (Ray Romano) and a smart saber-toothed tiger named Diego (Denis Leary). Since then, there had been three more films in 2006 ("The Meltdown"), 2009 ("Dawn of the Dinosaurs") and 2012 ("Continental Drift"). I was surprised that there was actually a fifth sequel this year, this time subtitled "Collision Course".

Scrat the squirrel was still in hot pursuit of his elusive acorn but this time the absurdity of the situation went too far. Unbeknownst to Scrat, the acorn was stuck to the steering wheel of a space ship. Scrat's desperate pulling of the acorn actually launches the flying saucer into outer space causing various cosmic accidents that sent an asteroid hurtling towards Earth.

Meanwhile, Manny and Ellie (Queen Latifah) are trying to deal with their daughter Peaches (Keke Palmer), who was already thinking of marrying her beau Julian (Adam DeVine). When the threat of the falling asteroid becomes apparent, the three friends and their families, along with the renegade weasel Buck (Simon Pegg) and the beautiful sloth Brooke (Jessie J), a new acquaintance from the enchanted crystal land of eternal youth Geotropia, quickly try to figure out a way to reverse the cataclysmic event in order to avert the end of the world.

With the fourth installment, I was already feeling that each subsequent film was stretching the franchise too long already. I confirmed this feeling while I was watching this new episode. Yes, the wacky interactive comedy from the original characters we know well are still there and were still the best parts. However, I felt that quite a number of the new characters and their jokes did not entirely fly.

I thought the Shangri Llama (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) turned to be a dud. He was not funny. He did not even look like a llama at all because of his curved horns like a ram. Those scenes where Buck was cradling and talking to a pumpkin as if it were a baby were very corny. The characterization of Julian was not too well done. I was not sure if he was really inept or trying hard to be cool. That family of ugly dino birds were supposed to be the antagonists, but their odd look made them seem out of place. The presence of a spacecraft in this movie about the Paleolithic age was even more out of place. 

Overall, this movie was okay for a family bonding activity for a lazy rainy afternoon. However, it cannot be denied that this franchise is already showing signs of fatigue. The new elements they have introduced could not reinvigorate the freshness of the original concept that has now gone stale over the years. This one could have simply gone straight to home video and it would not have been that great of a loss. 5/10.


15 comments:

  1. I loved the first Ice Age movies and I would like to see this one. I wouldn't expect much since it's a feel good film, something you watch with the kids for movie night. It did look a bit confusing when I saw the trailer though.

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  2. I've lost track of the last few Ice Age movies. I guess it's starting to run out of story lines. I would try to watch this though.

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  3. Last Monday, I watched Alice through the Looking Glass instead of Ice Age because my friend like Alice. I enjoyed the film, but tomorrow Thursday, this film ticks my schedule. Thanks for the trview, because it's like a bird's eye view for me.

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  4. I'm not a fan of Ice Age and when I saw this latest trailer, it did not manage to give excitement in any bit. I think it's time to retire the franchise.

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  5. Well, you just convinced me not to go see this movie in theaters. I guess I'll take my daughter to see The Secret Life of Pets only. I honestly didn't even know that Ice Age had so many sequels. I guess I'll try to find them on Netflix or Amazon Prime for a nice day in. Thanks for the review!

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  6. I love your honest review. I go with your sentiment, baka pa=ngit na ito. Yes, I think overexpose na ang characters. Enough of these sequels.

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  7. So sad.... I was really looking forward for this movie. Loved their earlier movies. So sad that this is not up to the standard..

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  8. I enjoyed the previous Ice Age movies. Although as it progresses, I only see the same antics over and over again. Still, I like to watch movies like this, just for some giggles and tiny laughs. :-)

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  9. Another movie ive missed
    Will have to wait for this on the dvd
    This is my kids fave

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  10. I enjoyed the Ice age movie along with my kids. Loved their earlier series as well.

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  11. Ice Age 5 somehow my daughter is not that interested to watch...I actually love this series.

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  12. I saw the very first one a long time ago. It was cute. I'd go back. :)

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  13. Not a fan of Ice Age, so I'm glad it wasn't rated too highly by you, then I won't feel too bad for not watching! Hahaa

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  14. I watch this also.. So funny! It's good to watch it with kiddos for a family fun day!

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  15. Will have to watch the movie to be able to give an informed comment. But the previous ones have being amazing, so i expect nothing less than perfection.

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