Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs marks the third in the popular series of animated films. Its two predecessors are loved by adults and children alike – inexplicably since there are far funnier animated efforts out there from the likes of Disney and Dreamworks.

Marked out by its 3D format, the story does, however, provide an inventive addition to the franchise, with comedy element Sid the Sloth (voiced by John Leguizamo) searching for fulfilment in parenthood, broody as a result of Ellie the mammoth’s (Queen Latifah) pregnancy.

When he discovers three eggs in a cave presumed abandoned, he makes off with them, determined to prove himself as a father.

Little does he realise that the eggs actually belong to a Tyrannosaurus Rex. She is far from happy that they have gone missing. When the angry dinosaur catches up with Sid, she find that her babies have already bonded with their surrogate dad. She reluctantly lets him stay around as they retreat to their supposedly extinct underground habitat.

Fearing for Sid’s safety, his friends set off in search of him, to rescue him and bring him back unharmed. But they soon discover much more than they bargained for, including an eccentric, spirited little swashbuckling fellow named Buck (Simon Pegg) who helps them in their hunt.

Sid the Sloth provides more entertainment value in this film than in either of the previous efforts, eliciting plenty of laughs from the audience. However, by contrast, the other characters have all lost much of their appeal and a lack of funny lines and amusing interaction make this a turgid, uninspiring, by-numbers affair that really only has the three-dimensional element going for it.

3D is used to greatest effect in the scenes involving the familiar character of acorn-chasing Scrat the squirrel. Liberties are taken with the verisimilitude (such as it is in an animated film about prehistoric animals) to incorporate some highly effective sequences reminiscent of the old Warner Brothers cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny and Road Runner, among others, to exploit the 3D technology to its fullest.

The scene where Scrat and his new love Scratte are floating in bubbles is one of the film’s highlights. His non-diegetic tale is weaved throughout the main narrative to give an enjoyable dialogue-free diversion from the central story.

Ultimately, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is nothing but a conveyor belt money-spinner.

With plenty of them out there, you’d be better off saving your money and waiting for the next lovingly-crafted animated feature to hit cinemas.

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