The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild review by Bobby Blakey


In 2002 we were introduced to this crazy group of friends who were just trying to make their way through the world with Ice Age. Like any film that makes money, especially animation it spawned an apparently unstoppable franchise with the sequels 2006s Ice Age: Meltdown, 2009s Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, 2012s Continental Drift and 2016s Ice Age: Collision Course. It seemed as the franchise had finally come to an end, but clearly not as we now have a new spin-off like entry focusing on the character Buck voiced by Simon Pegg that was introduced in Dawn of the Dinosaurs and then returned in Collision Course with Ice Age franchise producer John C. Donkin stepping into the directors seat for the first time.
The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild” follows the hilarious escapades of the sub-zero heroes as they create more prehistoric pandemonium. Eager for a little independence, the thrill-seeking possum brothers Crash and Eddie set out to find a place of their own but soon find themselves trapped beneath the ice in a massive cave inhabited by dinosaurs. They are rescued by the one-eyed, adventure-loving weasel Buck Wild, and together, with the help of some new friends, embark on a mission to save the Lost World from dinosaur domination.
I was bummed to see that Pegg is the only person to return to the voice cast with the rest of the characters voiced by new people including Utkarsh Ambudkar, Justina Machado, Vincent Tong and Aaron Harris. They are close enough that its fine especially since the main cast of characters in the Ice Age series aren’t the focal point. To that point is interesting to note that while it is titled as an adventure for Buck it really focuses more on Crash and Eddie. Once Buck arrives he is there throughout, but this is Crash and Eddie’s journey so kind of strange that it is promoted in the direction it is.
Stepping aside that the film is pretty fun still. Much like the previous films it offers up laughs, adventure and heart dealing with family and finding a place in the world. Up until now Crash and Eddie have been supporting players relying on their connection to Ellie, but here they get to lead the charge as they look to find their own way in the world. This takes them back to the Lost World which we previously met Buck in Dawn of the Dinosaurs.
The animation looks pretty much the same as the previous films and delivers what fans have come to love from the series. The films shortcomings come more in missing the OG’s of the franchise and their new voices. Crash, Eddie and Buck are all good along with the additional new characters, but it just felt like something was missing. Thankfully there was still enough here to entertain all around and will no doubt be a hit with the young audience its aimed for.
Return to the ice age and check out The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild when it streams exclusively on Disney+ on January 28th.