After months of hype, “Ice Age: the Meltdown” has finally arrived for our viewing pleasure.

Ray Romano, John Leguizamo and Denis Leary are back in this sequel to the 2002 animated hit that had prehistoric animals migrating to a warmer locale as the Ice Age approached.

This time around Manny the oft-depressed wooly mammoth, Diego the bellowing saber-toothed tiger who has a fear of water and Sid the blundering and hilarious sloth have discovered that the Ice Age is coming to an end. The whole crew is enjoying the perks of melting ice and warmer temps until they realize that the whole basin is about to flood. If they can’t get to the other end of the basin and up into an ark-like structure before the wall of ice (which acts as a dam) bursts, they will all be food for the vultures.

Along the way Manny, Diego and Sid meet Ellie, a wooly mammoth who is under the mistaken belief that she is an opossum like the two “brothers” (voiced by Sean WIlliam Scott and Josh Peck) who she has been raised with.
Manny, who is constantly being told he is the last of his kind, is thrilled to meet Ellie, but he must first convince her that she is a mammoth if he is going to take on the awesome responsibility of saving his species.

Pop culture references abound in “Ice Age 2,” helping make it a great way to spend an hour and a half. Adults and children alike will enjoy this film as it infuses a lot of humor aimed at keeping the mature audience entertained without leaving out the kiddies.

There were three or four scenes in a row in which I said to myself, “Now this is the best scene yet.” One of my favorite scenes has a flock of vultures performing “Food, Glorious Food” in a performance straight from a Broadway stage.

Another great scene stars Sid the sloth as he is carried away in the middle of the night by a legion of mini-sloths who refer to him as the Fire King. Pleased with the status these sloths have designated him with, Sid feels he is finally getting the respect he deserves. A fun sequence ensues as the sea of sloths mimic Sid’s every move. Things are finally looking up for Sid, that is right up until they reveal their purpose is to throw him into a fiery pit of lava as a sacrifice to stop the meltdown.

And who can forget Skrat, the half-squirrel, half-rat from the original. He’s still after that nut and stars in his own mini movie that is intertwined throughout the rest of the film. From one mishap to the next, Skrat is bound and determined to get ahold of that nut.

“Ice Age: The Meltdown” kept me laughing throughout. The film features a great returning cast and some wonderful new additions as well. Parents may want to know that there is one scene which uses a swear word, beginning with a “d.” Nothing too bad, but just so you know.

Whether you have seen the original or not, this is definitely a flick worth catching.

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