Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Peril, potty humor in sequel about family and growing up.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 10 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is a disappointing addition to the franchise, with many criticizing it for its poor animation, weak plot, and unlikable characters. While a few younger viewers enjoyed it, the overwhelming sentiment is one of frustration and irritation towards its lazy execution and lack of charm compared to previous entries.
- cashgrab
- weak plot
- poor animation
- unlikable characters
- few positive reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Possum brothers Crash (voiced by Vincent Tong) and Eddie (Aaron Harris) feel ready to move out and get their own place in THE ICE AGE ADVENTURES OF BUCK WILD. Adopted big sister Ellie (Dominique Jennings) doesn't think they're ready to be out on their own, but the two run off anyway and unintentionally wind up back in the dinosaur-ruled Lost World. There, they encounter old friend Buck (Simon Pegg), who tells them they've come at a bad time: Villain Orson (Uktarsh Ambudkar) has escaped his imposed exile on Lava Island and has returned with an army of raptors to rid Lost World of mammals and take over as ruler. Buck's old friend Zee (Justina Machado) arrives to help the gang fight back, as do other friends and family, including Manny (Sean Kenin Elias-Reyes), Sid (Jake Green), and Diego (Skyler Stone).
Is It Any Good?
If you enjoy 80 straight minutes of animated action interspersed with witty one-liners and some positive life lessons, or if you're just a fan of the Ice Age franchise, then this movie is for you. The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild carries on the franchise's formula by picking up characters and plot lines from earlier films. Opening and closing credits memorably involve cave drawings of the animal cast, but the voiceover narration recapping past events could confuse newcomers with too many names. This installment has very little character development beyond the Crash and Eddie storyline. The boys are all grown up, and despite typical teenage behavior, they announce they're ready to move out and get their own "bachelor pad." Of course, they immediately stumble into trouble.
Parents might connect in a surprising way with both the boys' eye-roll-worthy shenanigans and also their eventual growth and maturation. They go from announcing "It's time for us to make our own destiny… and maybe even make our own lunch," to discovering their own strengths and demonstrating real empathy for others. Meanwhile, the surrogate parent figure, big sis Ellie, learns she has no choice but to have faith in the boys' ability to take care of themselves. The new character of Zee offers them a new big sis figure, and it's her role in this film to show them the loving patience that helps build their confidence. Plenty of positive family lessons sketched in here.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild weaves old characters into the story and introduces new ones. Do you think you need to have seen the prior movies to understand this one? Why or why not?
Why doesn't Ellie think Crash and Eddie are mature enough to move out at the start of the film, but seems to feel they are at the end?
Does Orson's having been bullied as a kid explain or excuse his behavior as an adult? Why or why not?
What was the actual Ice Age? Where you can find out more?
Do you think the film's message about species coexisting peacefully could be applied to humans? How so or not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : January 28, 2022
- Cast : Vincent Tong , Aaronn Harris , Simon Pegg
- Director : John C. Donkin
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Disney+
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals ( Dinosaurs ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Run time : 81 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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