ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS
Fun, funny, and exciting family adventure.
Should You Watch It?
This is the strongest kind of family adventure: the story keeps moving, the jokes keep coming, and the heroes risk their lives to save one another. Family and parenthood are central, and the movie includes redemptive themes of sacrifice along with a couple of biblical allusions.
The cost is modest but real. The cartoon violence can become intense and scary, especially when dinosaurs chase, grab, and try to eat other creatures. A few politically correct references, including gender-bending and homosexual allusions, may affect older children more than younger ones.
If your children can handle scary dinosaur action, this is a joyful, exciting choice. For younger or sensitive children, choose something gentler.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESScrat the squirrel accidentally exposes a dinosaur world beneath the ice. Soon, Sid the sloth discovers three T-Rex eggs and decides to care for them himself.
When the baby dinosaurs hatch, their mother takes them—and Sid—back below the ice. Manny, Ellie, Diego, Crash, and Eddie set out to rescue him. In the dangerous world beneath their own, they meet Buck, a wacky weasel who has survived there for years.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is one of the best fun, funny, and entertaining movies of the year. The plot is driving, the constant emotional and physical jeopardy keeps the story fresh, and two major new characters prevent it from feeling stale.
The humor is plentiful and goofy, while the action remains exciting. The movie also carries its themes of family and parenthood through to the end. It is more action-oriented, better plotted, and more wholesome than the second film in the series.
The Worldview
The movie strongly values family, parenthood, friendship, and self-sacrificial courage. Its heroes risk their lives to save Sid and protect the pregnant Ellie. The story also includes a couple of biblical allusions and presents sacrifice as a redemptive good.
The film’s positive moral vision is mixed with a light politically correct tone. It promotes multicultural tolerance through the idea that everyone in Manny and Ellie’s herd is accepted, no matter who they are. It also includes gender-bending or homosexual allusions, including Sid pretending to be the mommy of the baby dinosaurs and Buck saying he was present when giant prehistoric butterflies “came out.” A pro-American allusion joins many different animals into one “herd,” while an evolutionary reference concerns dinosaur extinction.
The film’s longing for family and sacrificial love points toward the truth that “greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong moral worldview with some redemptive elements of sacrifice, including a couple of biblical allusions, marred by some light political correctness of multicultural tolerance and a few gender bending/homosexual jokes such as male sloth pretends to be the mommy of three baby dinosaurs and character says he was there when some giant prehistoric butterflies “came out,” plus a pro-American allusion of forming one “herd” out of many different animals (E Pluribus Unum) and an evolutionary reference to dinosaur extinction; one light obscenity and three butt’s and a couple dangs; sometimes scary cartoon action violence involving carnivorous plants and scary dinosaurs is too strong for younger children and includes creatures falling, baby dinosaurs wreak havoc chasing and trying to bite other young creatures, scary dinosaur skeleton, giant carnivorous plant tries to eat heroes, dinosaurs grab creatures, large dinosaur chases creatures, pack of small meat-eating dinosaurs try to eat other creatures, heroes fight menacing dinosaurs, etc.; no sex, but references to having babies; fur on male squirrel gets torn off, revealing two nipples; no alcohol; no smoking or drugs; and, nothing else objectionable.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The heroes risk their lives to save Sid and protect Ellie. What does real sacrificial love look like in your family?
John 15:13 · Philippians 2:3–4Sid wants to care for the baby dinosaurs, while Manny and Ellie prepare for their own child. What responsibilities come with caring for someone weaker than you?
Galatians 6:2 · James 1:27The movie presents a herd made up of many different animals. How can a family or church welcome people while still honoring what is true?
Romans 12:4–5 · Ephesians 4:15–16The characters face fear and danger together. Where can you turn when you feel afraid?
Psalm 56:3–4 · Isaiah 41:10The Final Word
This is a lively, wholesome family adventure with constant jokes, exciting jeopardy, and a strong emphasis on family and sacrifice. Younger children may find the dinosaur violence too scary, and discerning parents should note the politically correct allusions. For slightly older children through adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP.
