Film review: Ice Age 4: Continental Drift

The world’s most beloved prehistoric herd is back and this time they’re setting off on a hilarious high seas adventure! ICE AGE 4: CONTINENTAL DRIFT sailed into stores on the 10th December, available in Triple Play, Blu-ray 3D & DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

We love the Ice Age films and this all-new chapter reconnects families with herd favourites Manny, Sid, and Diego, plus a band of pirates led by the fearsome orangutan Captain Gutt. The toddler loved this film as he is really into pirates at the moment.

This is a great family film and the Blu-ray has lots of added extras. You can watch the film in “PARTY WITH A PIRATE!” mode where the Pirate SQUINT will guide you through the Blu-ray menus and even ride along for some added swashbuckling entertainment. There are also four fun-filled music videos to get you singing and dancing along with the herd. More information can be found on the Official Facebook Page.

Read on for an interview with Wanda Sykes who voices Sid’s grandmother.

QUESTION: Looks like a lot happens to Manny, Sid, Diego and Scrat in Ice Age 4. So what’s the inside scoop?
WANDA SYKES: In this new Ice Age adventure, something happens with Scrat. He causes the moving of the earth and the family gets separated. It’s another adventure in getting everyone back together.

QUESTION: You are playing Sid’s Granny in the film. What does she bring to the story?
SYKES: Granny brings nothing but trouble to this adventure. She’s like Sid. She’s been abandoned by the family and she goes along on this adventure and just causes problems. She’s not really providing any comfort or, “That’s okay, guys, we can get it going.” No, Granny is just pointing out everyone’s screw-ups and she causes a few herself. But she’s fun and she just says whatever she wants to say. In the end, you see that she saves the day.

QUESTION: Is that what you loved most about playing her?
SYKES: Yes! Yes, I loved playing Granny. It’s just the freedom. She’s old, she doesn’t care, and she doesn’t care about your feelings. Granny just says whatever she wants to say and it’s funny. She just lets the insults fly. Everyone thinks she’s a little nuts, like she’s lost it. But, we find out that what they thought was her dead pet really is who saves the day for us.

QUESTION: Animation offers so much room for interpretation in terms of visuals. But did you get to improvise with your own voice performance?
SYKES: The script is so well written that there wasn’t a lot of improv.

QUESTION: What did you think of all the new characters?
SYKES: Oh, I loved it. I loved it. And also, it was a little scary, so that was fun. They were so colorful. Peter Dinklage was amazing as the pirate and just that the look of it. I love these new creatures that are on this adventure, so yeah.

QUESTION: Why do you think the Ice Age films remain so appealing to audiences of all ages?
SYKES: Kids love animation and they love this. It’s a great adventure, but also it involves a family and it’s about that family sticking up for each other. That’s the most important thing, being there to support each other. I think they like the heart of that. It’s just funny, too. It’s just a fun ride.

QUESTION: Do you have a favorite scene in Ice Age 4?
SYKES: I really love the little…I don’t even know what they were…the little gerbils! Yeah, chipmunks or something! They were so cool. I loved that. I loved that scene where Sid is talking to them and giving them the plan and they go into some Braveheart moment. I loved that.

QUESTION: Are you a Blu-ray and DVD fan?
SYKES: Yes, and I used to be able to watch them before I had kids. Now I’m watching kids movies and I’m watching kids movies in French, so there you go.