REEL CRITIC -- Sara Salam

During the Ice Age, animals migrated south to save themselves from the

cold and from dying. But in the animated film “Ice Age,” a small “herd”

of three mammals decide to do otherwise. This includes a mammoth named

Manny, a saber-toothedtiger named Diego and a sloth named Sid.

Manny and Sid encounter a cute lost baby from a tribe of humans and

decide to return it to its family. Soon, the hungry Diego gets on their

trail and hatches a mischievous plot to steal the baby by leading the

herd to Half Peak, where an ambush is waiting. It is out of this journey

that the small odd group of mammals become friends.

Sid is an outgoing sloth who is left behind by his family during

migration and finds the woeful Manny, who saves his life. These two are

quite different but seem to have a lot in common. They then meet Diego,

who only cares about capturing the baby and doesn’t have a trusting

personality. Together, with the baby, they endure rock slides, volcanic

eruptions, avalanches and a run-in with some dodo birds. How will they

survive?

“Ice Age” is a somewhat funny movie with good computer animation and

dialogue. Some of the characters, such as Sid, are so stupid that you

feel sorry for them. Overall, it had all the necessary parts for an

entertaining movie; a good hook, interesting characters, and the

components of humor and tragedy. It’s not something I would see again and

again; however, little kids may want to see it more than once.

“Ice Age” is rated PG for mild peril.

* SARA SALAM attends Corona del Mar High School as an eighth-grader.