I continue to be flummoxed by the decision of Hollywood producers to tack on a third installment to a movie that really said everything it had to say by version #2. In this case, a pretty weak storyline is the basis for Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. The ragtag gang of prehistoric animals is led by a tired-sounding Ray Romano as Manny, the woolly mammoth, as they find adventure in a lost land under the ice teeming with winged creatures and other more dangerous dinosaur-types. The object of the mission is to rescue Sid the Sloth (John Leguizamo) who, in an odd yet strangely comforting development, finds his “maternal” instincts through three dinosaur foundlings. Of course the little rugrats belong to a really angry mama who doesn’t take too kindly to dino-napping. The gang includes a muted Queen Latifah as a 9-months-along Ellie and an emasculated sabretooth, Diego, so commandingly portrayed by Denis Leary in the earlier films. Scrat, the long-suffering “squirrel trying to get a nut” has competition this time, and this little lady is playing for keeps. Sadly, their uninspiring subplot meanders in and out of the main theme, in itself not particulary interesting.

Then just about the time when you figure you won’t miss much buying a next popcorn from the lovely concession ladies, Buck arrives to save the movie, I mean, the day! By Buck, I refer to the brilliant British comedian Simon Pegg of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Star Trek XI. The character is by far the most interesting one-dimensional actor to grace the screen in years. We’re not sure what he is or how he got there but we don’t care. He’s fun, he’s crazy with a capital “psycho”. The baby dinos also hold their own against the main group. Though they utter not one word, I laughed more at their antics than the main characters combined. I see a McDonald’s Happy Meal in sight for this present day version of Larry, Curly and Moe. The end is – no spoilers here – a typical Hollywood warm and fuzzy, neatly tied up outing, just begging for Ice Age 4: Buck and the Happy Meal Babies’ Lost Adventure.

3 popcorns out of 5