Ice Age: The Meltdown

The first Ice Age was pretty much about nothing, but it was very entertaining (I gave it four stars). The second one, on the other hand, is completely about nothing and minimally entertaining (only the squirrel saves it). The animation is excellent (with the exception of the big wave) and the sound of cracking ice is great, but the screenplay – from the one-liners and jokes to the use of the characters’ potential for cuteness – ranks among below-average, straight-to-DVD animated B-movies. For a mega-project like Ice Age 2, that is bewildering. (29/03/2006)

This movie was quite a disappointment. I was expecting at least a somewhat balanced sequel to the first movie, but unfortunately, I got a weaker sequel that failed mainly due to the screenplay, and a proper plot. So that – especially with a big project like the sequel to Ice Age – is a somewhat bigger problem. The one thing that is great about this movie is the mammoth-possum Ellie, whose "performance" (can you even call it that?) is destroyed by a pair of annoying possums. So, I am leniently awarding this movie three stars with a wink. (24/07/2008)

They screwed a slightly different, inoffensive story that is entertaining and makes you laugh. The wisecracks and dialogs are as amusing as last time, plus Scrat is put to much greater use and more interestingly and at the end he is unbeatable. A respectable little brother to part one which definitely is nothing to be ashamed of. (13/06/2006)

It's a pretty decent movie, but somehow I can't help feeling that while I enjoyed the first installment, this one didn't quite hit the mark as much. But I have to appreciate its originality, especially since it ties in quite well with what was in the first film plot-wise. Scrat is still funny and the main group has grown quite a bit. Moreover, a mammoth as a possum is just wonderfully absurd. (23/03/2015)

After the first Ice Age comes the less successful, but still quite funny second part. This time it's a massive flood that is very well done in terms of animation. In fact, the animation overall is of a high standard. The story is simple, but on the other hand it is complemented by great jokes. In my opinion, this is the weakest entry (so far) in the series, but I still had fun. Of course, I mustn't forget the amazing Scrat, without whom Ice Age wouldn't be what it is. If he were a flesh and blood character, the Oscar for Best Comedy Performance :-) (08/08/2009)