Children will probably enjoy Ice Age 3, but adults may find the script a little over-sophisticated, not to say conflicted in its attitudes towards women.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:146
Fresh:66
Rotten:80
Average Rating:5.4/10
Consensus: The third Ice Age film has some excellent animation, but its story is tired and monotonous.
Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins
Genre: Childrens
Australian Theatrical Release:
Jul 1, 2009 Wide
US Box Office: $196,573,705
Synopsis: Manny, Sid, Diego, and Ellie are back in this third film in the computer-animated Ice Age series. With those creatures in starring roles, fans also get another dose of the vocal talents of Ray... Manny, Sid, Diego, and Ellie are back in this third film in the computer-animated Ice Age series. With those creatures in starring roles, fans also get another dose of the vocal talents of Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, and Queen Latifah, who are joined by SHAUN OF THE DEAD’s Simon Pegg. In ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAUR, Manny and Ellie are expecting their first baby, while Sid the sloth tries an unconventional way of starting a family that gets him into trouble. With all this talk of babies, Diego might be losing his saber-toothed edge, but a journey to save Sid may just turn the whole group into heroes. In addition to all that adventure, it wouldn’t be an Ice Age film if Scrat weren’t on a desperate hunt for an acorn, but he might get distracted by a shapely female squirrel. [More]
Starring: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah
Starring: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah, Simon Pegg
Director: Carlos Saldanha
Director: Carlos Saldanha
Screenwriter: Michael Berg, Peter Ackerman, Mike Reiss, Yoni Brenner
Story: Jason Carter Eaton
Producer: Lori Forte, John C. Donkin
Composer: John Powell
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Reviews for Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
The animation, by Fox’s Blue Sky studio, still impresses, especially in the care given to the fur on the creatures; but the humour seems even more aimed at the very young than before.
And that overriding air of cuteness is a problem that seems destined to get worse in the sequels which will surely follow. Battle fatigue has definitely set in.
A fun-tastic adventure that virtually guarantees enjoyment for the whole family.
Dawn of the Dinosaurs so successfully reinvigorates an already solid franchise, while simultaneously broadening the fan base, that you can already see the fourth film gathering on the horizon.
Director Carlos Saldanha has introduced an exciting new story which, while it doesn’t amaze, is an enjoyable adventure.
A most excellent adventure, built on the fun foundations of new characters and worlds which aren't just exhumed or lazily unleashed.
The 3D effects are not over-done, nor do they detract from the film. They are actually quite enjoyable.
The film has an appealing energy and is abundantly cute, although its target market may become restless and some of the sequences feel repetitive. For me, if you've seen one Ice Age you've seen them all
When the story does get underway, the incident that sets it into motion seems thrown in%u2014precisely what you'd expect for the third installment in a series that was already tired by the second.
The quality of the stories has gradually declined in each succeeding sequel since the original film was released in 2002, but the technical quality of computer animation has improved during that same time.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs works on its own terms, as a distraction for the children and an inoffensive, if unfulfilling, time at the theater for their parents.
The manic pace quickly grows tiresome, as does the influx of cloying baby animals.
Those who complain about the feeble jokes and contrived situations should be forced to watch the first two films and defend them.
A baby's on the way, a new acquaintance adds to the fun/confusion, and some old friends are back.
Latest News for Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
October 26, 2009:
RT on DVD: Ice Age, Battlestar, and Creeps
This week on home video, we've rounded up the usual new releases, but we've also got a lot of independent films that were critically acclaimed but sadly underseen. Then, we've... More...
September 08, 2009:
Ice Age 3: third-biggest film ever internationally ![]()
Although only ranked no. 7 in the US for 2009 with $194 million domestically, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs will this week become the third-highest grossing film ever... More...
July 06, 2009:
Robots Scrap Scrat as Transformers freezes out Ice Age
Defying critics, champions of taste and the evolution of human life in general, Michael Bay's unstoppable metal machines made scrap of Scrat and co. as Transformers: Revenge of... More...
July 05, 2009:
Box Office Guru Wrapup: Transformers and Ice Age Tie for Top Spot
The Independence Day holiday frame saw a rare tie for first place as Paramount and Fox both reported a $42.5M estimate for the Friday-to-Sunday span for their summer sequels... More...
More Movies
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie | Date |
|---|---|---|
| | Shutter Island | 18/2 |
| 33% 33% | From Paris With Love | 18/2 |
| 97% 97% | The Hurt Locker | 18/2 |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs at Rotten Tomatoes
- Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs at IGN
Fresh Links
Featured

Get all the latest review updates, movie news and features here.
Competitions

We're giving away the Audrey Tautou-starring fashion pic on DVD.



Top Critic


