{Top Ten Tuesday}
{10 Reasons To Go See Ice Age 4: Continental Drift}
{Opening Nationwide July 13, 2012}
A few weeks ago I was invited by 20th Century Fox via 43KIX to view and review a sneak peek showing of ICE AGE 4: Continental Drift. What made this invitation even more amazing was the viewing fell on my son’s 9th birthday! When I shared the opportunity with him, he was beside himself. In addition, to make our time even more enjoyable, I told him I would love to know his thoughts on the movie so to include them in my review. Happily, he agreed.
To make this review fun for mom’s and dad’s alike, we’re doing a TOP TEN list.
{1} Determination and perseverance are running themes throughout the movie.
- Scrat, a saber-toothed, acorn chasing squirrel, follows an elusive acorn to the center to the earth and back, to the bottom of the ocean and back without slowing or being distracted.
- Our lead character, Manny (Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond), a multi-ton mammoth is separated from his family when the ground beneath them begins opening and shifting (i.e. continental drift). From the point he’s cast to sea along with Sub Zero Heroes Diego (Dennis Leary, Ice Age Franchise, Rescue Me) a saber-toothed tiger and Sid (John Leguizamo, Ice Age Franchise, The Lincoln Lawyer) a hilarious sloth with an adorable lisp, Manny keeps a single-minded focus ~ return home to be reunited with his family ~ period!
- Manny’s wife, Ellie (Queen Latifah, Ice Age Franchise, Valentine’s Day) and his daughter, Peaches (Keke Palmer, Winx Club, True Jackson, VP) migrate along with displaced friends, in search of safe, steady ground. Although the shifting rock and green beneath and around startle and scare, the two press forward, resolved to stay unharmed while hoping beyond hope they’ll be reunited with Manny.
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.“ ~ Hebrews 10:36 (NIV)
{2} Peaches deals with peer pressure, gives in at first, then recognizes her wrong and makes it right.
Whether we want to admit it or not, peer pressure is present and incontestable no matter what age. How it’s handled demonstrates maturity regardless of age. Peaches made an unfortunate decision and succumbed to pressure, pressure to ditch her small and best friend, Louis (Josh Gad, Marmaduke). Through the experience, Peaches comes to the realization real and true friends don’t ask friends to exclude other friends from their lives. Great lesson learned.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” ~ John 13:34 (NLT)
{3} “Friends don’t leave friends behind.”
Continuing with the Peaches/Louis storyline, Peaches finds herself in a situation. She’s captured by pirates who sought revenge on Manny. Even after overhearing Peaches claim she was not his friend, Louis still found an opportunity to help rescue her. His loyalty and forgiving spirit spoke loudly. It was a wonderful demonstration of forgiveness and friendship restoration.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” ~ John 15:13 (ESV)
{4} Motion Picture Association of America PG Rating…
Ice Age 4: Continental Drift was given a PG rating by the Motion Picture Association of America. While writing this review, I reviewed what a PG rating means.
PG — Parental Guidance Suggested.Some Material May Not Be Suitable For Children. A PG-rated motion picture should be investigated by parents before they let their younger children attend. The PG rating indicates, in the view of the Rating Board, that parents may consider some material unsuitable for their children, and parents should make that decision. The more mature themes in some PG-rated motion pictures may call for parental guidance. There may be some profanity and some depictions of violence or brief nudity. But these elements are not deemed so intense as to require that parents be strongly cautioned beyond the suggestion of parental guidance. There is no drug use content in a PG-rated motion picture.
If I’m to be totally honest, I was surprised by the PG rating. I cannot pin point any content, scene or language which I found offensive or inappropriate. There weren’t any moments I found unbecoming or objectionable.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” ~ Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
{5} Those hunting for belonging will find it somewhere.
While afloat at sea, Manny, Diego, Sid and Sid’s Granny (Wanda Sykes, The Muppets, Rio) are overtaken by a motley band of pirate creatures led by Captain Gutt (Peter Dinklage, Underdog, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian). While being held captive, the heroes meet Shina (Jennifer Lopez, American Idol, Monster-In-Law), a female saber-toothed tiger who has found a home among the plunderers. Although she obediently follows command, serving as First Mate, there is a goodness seen in her which is lacking in her companions. Diego senses it and sees it first-hand, but he also sees the struggle she’s faced with when she considers leaving the team of pirates to join the Sub Zero Heroes. She’s found a family in these marauders, but senses there’s something different about Manny and the group. Thankfully, Shina leaves Captain Gutt’s control. She’s lovingly and openly welcomed, finding a healthy “family” with which to align.
“But to all who did accept him and believe in him he gave the right to become children of God.” ~ John 1:12 (NCV)
{6} The characters are funnier than in earlier Ice Age movies (my 9-year-old son’s reason).
The characters are funnier, especially newcomer, Granny. Her tendency to wander off without letting anyone know causes the viewer to giggle. Everything stops as the hunt for Granny begins. Additionally, when she jumped in the ocean to take her “first bath in decades”, dead fish started popping up everywhere, including a shark. Because she lost her false teeth on the trip to Sid’s, she’s forever asking others to chew her food for her. It was gross, but funny! We laughed when Granny, finally at the end of the movie, was given a new set of teeth ~ shark teeth. No worries now.
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” ~ Proverbs 17:22 (ESV)
{7} The father/daughter relationship between Manny and Peaches is tested and passes.
Peaches is your typical teenage mammoth. She longs to hang with her friends, explore the new and unfamiliar and experience a shade of independence. Manny finds himself in a situation in which most parents can relate. How does he allow Peaches to grow up while still protecting and sheltering her?
As the two of them do the father/daughter “dance”, Manny’s reluctance in letting Peaches “grow up” and experience the world around her is stifling. In response, she unloads harsh words which penetrate Manny’s heart. As an adult, I remember the teenage journey toward independence. As a mother, I completely understand the desire to protect and shelter at all cost. What I love about their interaction is it’s realness. Yes, they’re mammoth’s, but how they portray a parent/child relationship is dead on. Furthermore, it is during their separation that they both come to realize how their actions and reactions negatively affect the other. After being reunited, Peaches lovingly apologizes and Manny graciously forgives. Furthermore, Manny understands he must let Peaches grow and mature, explore and experience. Tested. Passed.
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” ~ Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)
{8} A family extends beyond flesh and blood.
It is in this movie we meet Sid’s unique family. Through coded conversation, we come to understand they’ve purposefully been avoiding Sid for the better part of his life. Now, they’re here to drop off Granny, because she’s become too much to handle. They appear, dump Granny then sneak off into the “sunset”.
Unfortunately, this type of family interaction isn’t foreign to some. For others, you can’t imagine your family treating you or anyone you love in such a way. Thankfully, there are those, as in Sid’s case, which welcome the cast out, left behind, and disregarded into their lives. They open their hearts and lovingly receive those who are alone and abandoned into their “family”. Mercy given. Mercy received. Mercy demonstrated.
“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” ~ Luke 6:26 (ESV)
{9} When the waves came, the heroes held tightly.
While adrift on a block of ice, Manny and his friends encountered an enormous storm. Crashing waves cause them to be tossed to and fro. They dug deep within themselves to hang on. Not only to they dig deep to hang on, they looked out for each other, rescuing one, encouraging another. For me, it was a beautiful demonstration of how relationships, both friendly and familial, should ideally function. Life is full of storms. Some may be stronger or more intense than others, but they’re storms none the less. If it’s our storm, having love, support, encouragement and inspiration is priceless. If it’s another’s storm, we know how important receiving love, support, encouragement and inspiration are. We need each other as we weather storms, but most of all, we need HIM!
“Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you.” ~ Deuteronomy 31:6 (AMP)
Last, but not least…
{10} It’s in 3D!
Both my son and I give ICE AGE 4: Continental Drift 5/5 stars.
Blessed to link with Angie’s Top Ten Tuesday over at Many Little Blessings
