Parents' Guide to

Ice Age: The Meltdown

By Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Funny, but contains some crude humor and mild profanity.

Movie PG 2006 90 minutes
Ice Age: The Meltdown Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 7+

Based on 19 parent reviews

Lebron12James3
Lebron12James3 Parent
January 21, 2022
age 2+

Far too much profanity

This title has:

Too much swearing
1 person found this helpful.
mr.n2
mr.n2 Adult
June 20, 2018
age 12+

To much SEX and profanity for a U movie

Well at one point they say things about the "ass" and one time A male character said that a female characters butt was big and that was attractive. This movie is definitely testing the boundaries. Ill say 12+ for too much SEX

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
1 person found this helpful.
See all 19 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In ICE AGE: THE MELTDOWN, the multi-species family -- fretful woolly mammoth Manny (Ray Romano), aggressive sabertooth tiger Diego (Denis Leary), and friendly, lispy sloth Sid (John Leguizamo) -- are on the move due to global warming. Warned by a sideshow barker turtle, Fast Tony (Jay Leno), who predicts floods and devastation, they seek a legendary big-bark-boat large enough to handle hundreds of post-prehistoric creatures. Each animal has his own special role on the journey: Diego's afraid of water, Sid's trying to keep everyone's spirits up, and Manny worries he's the last of his kind. As they begin to philosophize about extinction, they meet Ellie (Queen Latifah), a pert green-eyed mammoth who thinks she's a possum. Between Ellie's delusion and various predators, Sid has his work cut out for him.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (19):
Kids say (43):

Like the original film, this Ice Age sequel features appealing characters in recognizable, particularly familial situations. When Ice Age: The Meltdown runs low on plot, it cuts away to Scrat, the acorn-doting muskrat who keeps cracking ice walls and starting leaks in order to get at his prize, big eyes bulging and Wile E. Coyote-style limbs stretching. This bit was charming once and in a small dose, but might seem tedious after twice and three and four times.

For all mixing of fun and menace, the film is really about sincere, sometimes affecting, and decidedly alternative family connections.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the alternative family (here called a "herd") developed by the plucky heroes in Ice Age:The Meltdown . How do their different talents and interests help them to survive? How do they learn to support one another rather than argue or compete?

  • How does Sid, who shows a persistent faith in everyone's worth, become the "glue" that holds them all together?

  • How does the introduction of new members (Ellie and her possum brothers) temporarily disrupt the dynamic, as characters are jealous or afraid of being abandoned?

  • How does this movie compare to others in the series?

  • How do the characters in Ice Age:The Meltdown demonstrate courage and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

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