This fourth installment in the "Ice Age" films delivers what I think your youngest kids will truly enjoy (5-10). It really makes great use of 3D technology with characters zooming towards us and away from us throughout the entire film. We are charmed by many of the same characters from the previous films - Manny the Mommoth voiced by Ray Romano, Sid the Sloth by John Leguizano and Diego the saber-toothed tiger by Denis Leary. This crew is joined by a new host of characters including Manny's wife played by Queen Latifah, their daughter played by the adorable Keke Palmer, Granny voiced by Wanda Sykesand and more. One of our youth critics, julianna Noone (age 12) thought rated this film 5 out of 5 stars because "it is funny, well written and has a great message for the audience." Cheyenne Nguyen (age 8) rated it 5 out of 5 stars because "it’s exciting, funny and all the characters are so strong and different." Their full reviews are (here) below.

Ice Age: Continental Drift 
by Julianna Noone (age12)
(full video review here) 

HOLY CRAB!  What a great movie!  

Ice Age: Continental Drift really kicks some pirate booty. This fantastic film is about a group of different families that come together to form their own herd and together they overcome obstacles to stay together.

Once again, Manny (voiced by Ray Romano), Sid (voiced by John Leguizamo) and Diego (voiced by Dennis Leary) set off on another wild adventure caused by Scrat’s continued chase of that elusive acorn. Along the way, they overcome pirates, sirens and many other life and death obstacles.  

While I love all the characters and they are voiced by a terrific and funny set of actors, my favorite character is Granny (voiced by Wanda Sykes), who is a new addition to the cast.  Granny is so hilarious and a little zany and crazy.  Everyone thinks Granny has an imaginary friend, but as the movie goes along, we find out that the friend is not so imaginary.  It’s a very precious moment in the movie.  

My favorite scene is when Manny, Sid, Diego and Granny are having hallucinations that are unique to each of them.  Sid’s is about a female sloth; Diego sees Shira, a female pirate and also a saber tooth; Granny sees a muscular sloth and finally Manny sees his wife Ellie (voiced by Queen Latifah), who says to him “Manny, you were right, you’re always right”.  Manny hears that and he snaps out of his hallucination because he knows that Ellie would never say that to him.  It’s such a funny moment in the film, but also saves them all from dying.  

The music is very catchy and fits the movie well.  My favorite song is at the very end, because it’s about family and it is an adorable song. The animation is so well done that the characters appear lifelike as you can see the details in the sheen of their fur and the muscle movements.  Also, the 3D is well placed and not overdone, so it doesn’t take over the film.  Well done.

I rate this film 5 out of 5 stars as it is funny, well written and has a great message for the audience.  It is a perfect movie for everyone in your herd.  

This is a review by Julianna Noone reporting for KIDS FIRST!  Always remember, stick with your herd because they always have your back, no matter what.   

Ice Age: Continental Drift 
by Cheyenne Nguyen (age 8)
(full video review here)

This movie is an adventure and comedy animation. Ice Age: Continental Drift picks up where Scrat still did not catch that acorn, and the results of his chasing after the acorn created the continentto drift apart.

Manny (Ray Romano) an over protective father, trying to keep his teenage daughter Peaches (Keke Palmer) from hanging out with the bad group of mammoth.  However, Peaches is desperate to proof that she is cool so she can hang out with the cool kids.

Manny and his daughter had a fight in front of her friends and the last thing Peaches said to her father was “I wish you were not my father”. This is when the earth shakes; Manny, Diego and Sid were separated from the rest of the pack.   They encounter ice pirates and many different sea creatures.  

They all are home sick and wanted to find a way home.  However, the ice pirate wanted to capture them as prisoners.  Manny and his gang have to come up with a plan to escape from the pirates and use his ice ship to go home.

This movie has a lot of jokes that make me laugh throughout the movie.  The love story between Diego and the white tiger Shira (voice by Jennifer Lopez) is so cute.  The 3D is totally awesome.

The message of this movie is the important of family and we do not have a choice to pick who is in our family.  

My favorite character in this movie is Granny.  Everything about her is funny and unpredictable. One thing that I did not like is there are too many new characters.  I would like to see more of Granny.

I rank this movie 5 out of 5 stars because it’s exciting, funny and all the characters are so strong and different. I give this movie age ranged 3-18

Here's an additional treat, a video review by Morgan Bertsch, age 7.