Ice Age: The Meltdown
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: March 31, 2006 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
59
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews
Positive:
17
Mixed:
14
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
83
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
Ice Age: The Meltdown blithely looks on the bright side of life, amassing a screen full of vultures to sing and dance ''Food Glorious Food'' and daring us not to get happy. Read full review
83
Christian Science MonitorPeter Rainer
So many movies these days are being linked, often quite tenuously, to current politics. Let this new film be no exception. I am happy to say that Ice Age: The Meltdown points up for toddlers the dangers of global warming. Read full review
80
BBCNeil Smith
Reuniting the mismatched heroes from its hit predecessor, Carlos Saldanha's mix of race-against-time action and eco-friendly propaganda is actually an improvement on the original, not least for giving its funniest character - acorn-hunting rodent Scrat - a lot more to do. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMichael Wilmington
This "Ice Age" is still a good movie (especially for kids) with top-of-the-tech CGI. Read full review
75
USA TodayClaudia Puig
Should warm viewers' hearts globally. Read full review
75
Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman
The mediocre original, hampered by a saccharine plot and unconvincing reversals of character, earned lots of money but few plaudits. Now comes Ice Age: The Meltdown, a sequel with more humor, topicality, intelligence and appeal. Read full review
75
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
While it lacks the heart and hipness of the similar-themed Pixar odysseys, The Meltdown has the physical humor of slapstick comedy. Read full review
75
New York Daily NewsJami Bernard
A good-natured, gag-filled sequel. Read full review
75
New York PostLou Lumenick
The rare sequel that is better than the original. Read full review
75
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
The series' breakout star remains Scrat (Chris Wedge), a scrawny, speechless rat-squirrel thing trapped in a Sisyphean quest for acorns, and while kids' movies generally could do with fewer scatological gags (the target audience for poo and pee humor needs no encouragement), writers Peter Gaulke and Jim Hecht managed to come up with a (relatively) sophisticated one. Read full review
75
The Seattle TimesMoira Macdonald
Directed by Carlos Saldanha, who co-directed "Ice Age," the film feels visually richer than its predecessor (thanks to all that plain white ice melting) but has the same brand of uncomplicated all-ages charm. Read full review
70
L.A. WeeklyElla Taylor
The movie still retains the goofy charm, stylish visuals and attention to character of its fine 2002 predecessor. Queen Latifah is a warm and plummy new presence as a voluptuous lady mammoth whose only drawback is that she was raised by possums and thinks she's one herself. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterLuke Sader
Raucously fun, fluid follow-up with ecological message. Read full review
63
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
This is a lackluster film that exists exclusively because its predecessor made money. Read full review
63
PremiereJessica Letkemann
The sweet, furry animals are witty and often funny, and while the physical comedy is simple, the main characters ultimately aren't. Read full review
63
Miami HeraldPeter Debruge
Features the lamest story of any CG-animated feature to date. Read full review
63
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
The movie is nice to look at, the colors and details are elegant, the animals engaging, the action fast-moving, but I don't think older viewers will like it as much as the kids. Read full review
60
VarietyTodd McCarthy
A tad crasser and pushier than its predecessor, Ice Age: The Meltdown is still an entirely serviceable follow-up to the 2002 hit that will thoroughly amuse kids and get a rise or two out of parents as well. Read full review
60
EmpireCaroline Westbrook
It's charming enough. Read full review
50
The A.V. ClubTasha Robinson
It's more like watching a typical animated-shorts collection - a few highlights, a lot of clinkers - than like watching an actual movie. Read full review
50
The New York TimesJeannette Catsoulis
The animation is uninspired (with so much ice, the creatures need to be twice as good-looking), and the story is humdrum. (The saber-toothed tiger learns to swim!) Read full review
50
Washington PostStephen Hunter
The animation is first-rate...But the story needs to catch up to the magic. Otherwise, what's the point? Read full review
50
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
The film is enjoyable enough, at least for young children.
50
Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean Axmaker
Not as cool as the first. Read full review
50
Film ThreatPete Vonder Haar
If you're over the age of 11, there's obviously not much reason to see this. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderAndrea Gronvall
Improved CGI renders the animals' bodies in greater detail, but the laughs aren't as sharp. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChroniclePeter Hartlaub
Less a story than a series of complicated slapstick bits. Read full review
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Jennie Punter
Essentially a journey from point A to point B, a simple classic plotline on which to hang a collection of set pieces -- some delightful, some wacky, some tediously hackneyed. Read full review
50
Boston GlobeTy Burr
Ice Age: The Meltdown is pure sequel product that should make children and undemanding grown-ups happy even as it lacks anything resembling storytelling inspiration. Read full review
40
Austin ChronicleKimberley Jones
Much of the original film's geniality – and all of its pro-environment stumping – has gone missing; what we have instead is a watered-down likeness that curiously turns disaster flick in its too-scary third act. Read full review
40
Village VoiceJim Ridley
A romantic subplot about a possum-raised mammoth (Queen Latifah!) tries to put the warm in global warming, but the unappealing character designs, incessant celebrity-voice chatter, and slickly inexpressive 3-D animation thwart any emotional pull. Read full review
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