Plot: What’s it about?
The Ice Age has been a cold, brutal period, but now, the sun still shines and plenty of life continues to blossom. Syd (voiced by John Leguizamo) has tried to open a camp for young children, but they beat him up rather than respect him. The water slides and pools are all the rage, thanks to some melted ice, but Diego (voiced by Denis Leary) stays on dry land since he can’t swim. At the same time, Manny (voiced by Ray Romano) has started to become concerned that he is the last of the wooly mammoths, since no one seen another one in quite some time. As always, Scrat remains single minded and is consumed by acorns, risking life and limb whenever he has the chance to acquire one. As serene as this all sounds, danger looms over everyone, as the ice continues to melt and floods seem imminent. The valley is surrounded by water held back by thin ice dams, so after a close call, the herds head toward the far end of the valley. So the journey begins and while Manny, Diego, and Syd start out on their own, they soon pick up new traveling companions. Manny is stunned to find a female mammoth named Ellie (voiced by Queen Latifah), but she is convinced she is a possum and her possum brothers cause more trouble than they’re worth. As this unusual caravan heads towards the end of the valley, will Manny ever be able to convince her she’s a mammoth and even if he can, will the group be able to escape the inevitable flood that is soon to be unleashed?
The original Ice Age had some very cool visuals and interesting characters, but was weighed down by a much too serious vibe. I know these kids movies need to try to warm hearts, but Ice Age suffered because the filmmakers pushed too hard. In this sequel, much of the melodrama is replaced with danger and in the end, I found this follow up to be better than the original. This time around, the writing seems more free and more risks are taken, some work and some fail a dismal death. The core group of talent returns and as before, all give fine performances and John Leguizamo steps up his presence. He is given more chance to let loose and he takes advantage, with the movie’s best performance. The new characters tossed in work too, especially the possum brothers, who liven up quite a few scenes. My favorite character from the original was Scrat and he is given a lot more time in this sequel, which I appreciated. The movie can still be heavy handed at times, but most of the time, the movie is lighter and more fun than the original. I still wouldn’t rank it with the best new wave animation out there, but Ice Age: The Meltdown is more than solid. So if you’re in need of a new movie the entire family can enjoy, then this movie is well recommended.
Video: How does it look?
Ice Age: The Meltdown is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. his is as good as we could want, a clean and sharp visual presentation with no real flaws. The detail level is high, but keep in mind, the animation here is not that complex. So the textures don’t always have the subtle touches seen in other films of this kind, but that is due to the source. No issues with colors either, as hues have a rich and bold presence, while black levels perform at an accurate, smooth clip. Even as HD-DVD begins to creep into home theaters, this is an example of how standard DVDs can still look terrific.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 option offers an active, more than effective presentation, not on par with the best out there, but well above average. The full range of sound is covered here, as we have scenes that show some punch and power, as well as sequences that use more creative, subtle approaches. The surrounds are put to use often in both cases, so there is no lack of presence here. The power isn’t booming, but it is well handled and the atmosphere on the whole is quite immersive. I expected a solid effort here and overall, this soundtrack went beyond my expectations. This disc also includes French and Spanish language tracks, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
An audio commentary track features director Carlos Saldanha, who is joined by various members of the production staff. The session is lively and has very little downtime, as someone always has a tidbit or two of information to share. Saldanha guides the track at times, but everyone provides insight, so the session offers numerous perspectives. You can also check out the bonus short No Time For Nuts with the lovable Scrat, or view the evolution of a scene, from storyboard to finished product. A special look at how the new characters were developed is also here, as is a featurette on the marketing process, so quite a varied assortment. This disc also includes some outtakes, as well as the film’s theatrical trailer.
