It almost goes without saying that since "Ice Age 2: The Meltdown" is indeed a sequel, it will never live up to its predecessor. That spark that makes a movie something exceptional can never be precisely duplicated. Had there not been an original to make the quick comparison to, however, "Ice Age 2" would easily be deemed greatly entertaining.
Some time has passed since the close of the first film. Like a millennium or two, but who cares about logistics? Global warming has set in and at first everyone seems to be enjoying the nice weather and the plethora of fun aquatic activities it has brought. However, the animals soon find out that an inevitable flood is on the verge of destroying their valley, as the quickly disintegrating glaciers will only keep the water at bay for a couple more days. Their only escape is a boat located on the far side of the valley that can lead them to safety, and it is not long before a great migration sets out to find it.
If this sounds familiar, it is because the basic plot of "Ice Age 2" bares a striking resemblance to the original "The Land Before Time." Albeit instead of a lack of water, this time around it is quite the opposite. Kind of a rip-off, it is nowhere near as unique as the original's plot, but there we go comparing again.
The same gang of unlikely heroes is back in action for the second installment and they are all just as entertaining as before. The group includes the humble leader, Manny the Mammoth (Ray Romano, CBS's "Everybody Loves Raymond"), the dimwitted sloth, Sid (John Leguizamo, "Land of the Dead"), as well as the coolheaded saber-tooth tiger, Diego (Denis Leary, FX's "Rescue Me").
But of course that is never good enough for a sequel, as new characters are always a necessity. Joining the trio on their journey is a disillusioned female mammoth, Ellie (Queen Latifah, "Last Holiday"), who thinks she is actually a possum. Accompanying Ellie are her two zany "brothers" Crash (Sean William Scott, "The Dukes of Hazard") and Eddie (Josh Peck, Nickelodeon's "Drake & Josh") who never cease tormenting the others. The new additions do the best that can be expected of them despite the fact that everyone knows new characters will never be quite as enjoyable as the original cast.
However, above everything, "Ice Age 2" is satisfying. It is satisfying to see a children's film that intermingles a classic narrative with the modern use of computer imaging. It is satisfying to see a sequel that does not desperately try to pull out all the stops (àla "Shrek 2"). But more than anything, it is satisfying to have a children's movie that is funny. Not as in ostentatiously funny, or stupidly funny — just plain old funny.
Sure, remarkable graphics are cool and at times in "Ice Age 2" the viewer can't help but be astonished by the visual detail that went into it (i.e. the immaculate intricacy of the furry creatures), but overall the novelty of CGI has warn off. It is the funny side of the story that makes the film a success. Whether the audience is laughing at Sid being accidentally worshipped as a god or a troupe of vultures doing a musical number, the humor of "Ice Age 2" is simple yet creative — the perfect recipe for comedy that caters to all ages.
Perfectly gluing it all together are the crazy antics of the loveable squirrel Scrat (voiced by director Chris Wedge) and his hopeless pursuits of an ever-so-tasty acorn. His high jinks have been amplified for the sequel and they truly become the icing on the cake. Completely arbitrary to the plotline, one would think that the audience would bore of it. But the simplicity of his quest is so over the top that it results in being nothing short of complete comic genius.
However, when the comedy is absent, "Ice Age 2" shows its slight faults. In addition to the impending doomsday, the characters must also face their own internal demons throughout the film. Manny is realizing that his species is on the brink of extinction, Sid gains no respect from the others and Diego possesses a paralyzing fear of water. In the original "Ice Age," the serious moments were pulled off effectively. This time around, though, all of their struggles become empty side plots, as they only exist as vehicles for more comedic moments. Nevertheless, can they actually be considered an irredeemable flaw if the result is more bouts of nonstop laughter?
Along with "Shrek," the success of the original "Ice Age" helped weaken Disney and Pixar's stranglehold on CGI children's features. "Ice Age 2" continues in that same vein, producing something enjoyable for everyone, centering on the heart of any children's tale — timeless comedy.
Rating: 4 out of 5
