Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)

The critic is mildly positive, despite finding little story. They praise the imaginative animation and splendid pratfalls.

Dyer finds the film pacey and enjoyable, though he says the franchise’s character relationships have grown tired. He singles out Simon Pegg’s Buck as a welcome source of swashbuckling energy.

Bradshaw finds the film a pleasant, likable and safe choice for very young children, though some humor falls flat. He singles out one particularly good gag about Sid’s romantic prospects.

The page identifies this as a review, but the critic’s verdict is not visible. The accessible text does not reveal what the critic praised or criticized.

Collins finds the film entertaining but says its story is thin. He praises Blue Sky Studios’ more subtle animation, especially its texture, scale and depth.

Stewart finds the third entry lively in spots but ultimately unconvincing. He praises Simon Pegg’s swashbuckling Buck and the film’s visual spectacle, while criticizing the recurring comedy and the less animated central characters.

The review is negative, arguing that the film lacks even a brief flash of originality in its jokes. It singles out the reliance on fart gags and pop-cultural references as the central complaint.

Sharkey finds the film uneven and often sluggish, offering only mild entertainment despite some lively stretches. She praises the tropical dinosaur world, especially Buck and the Scrat-Scratte romance, but faults the film’s uninspired visuals and storytelling.

Phipps finds the film likely to bore anyone beyond its intended young audience. He praises the decent animation and voice cast but faults the series for abandoning its ice-age setting.

The critic finds the sequel monotonous and lacking in creative life, charm, or inventiveness. They praise the technically assured animation and vivid 3D, but say the film feels dated beside its competition.

Hurst finds the film uneven but enjoyable, calling it solid, harmless entertainment that does little to advance the franchise. He praises Scrat as the series’ standout, while noting that the 3-D effects are inconsistently used.

Munro finds the film bland and below par, though still watchable for younger children. He particularly praises the Scrat sequences, which provide the most effective humor and use of 3D.