There has been a lot of talk that Ice Age would make a killing at the box office it's first weekend out, thanks to the new trailer for Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. After watching this new computer animated feature, I'm confident it will achieve success based on it's own merits. Of course the nifty Star Wars trailer won't hurt matters.

Ice Age follows the adventures of a wooly mammoth with a lot on his mind, a silly sloth who won't shut up, and a saber toothed tiger with a hidden agenda, as they journey across the land to return a human child to his family. Adventure ensues as every possible thing that can go wrong, does.

Ice Age is really interesting in that it offers the latest in computer technology but relys on a looney tunes sensibility to tell it's story. For instance, there is a running gag in this film that deals with a squirrel desperately trying to bury an acorn. These zany sequences are very reminiscent of the work of the late, great Chuck Jones.

This isn't to say that all of Ice Age is out of that mold. Actually, this picture has a surprising amount of heart. There are a few moments here that have an unexpected and most welcome dramatic weight.

A major key to the success of Ice Age, lies in the fantastic cast lending their vocal talent to these terrific characters. Ray Romano is Manfred the mammoth. While I've never been a huge fan of Romano's TV show (Everybody Loves Raymond), I really like what he does here. Although we are only hearing his voice, he is quite effective displaying a sense of mourning and heartbreak. John Leguizamo is hilarious as Sid the big mouth Sloth. While this is the traditional comic relief character, Leguizamo more than makes the most of it. Finally, Denis Leary is perfect as Diego the tiger, lending a suave and sarcastic tone to this wonderful character.

Ice Age isn't really in the same league as Shrek or the Pixar pictures, but I found it much more enjoyable than Monsters Inc, and I believe it's because this picture is far more broad. With a plot that echoes Willow and Disney's Dinosaur, Ice Age is an amusing, heartfelt journey that really took me by surprise. This is a great film for the whole family, and may I say that I think the squirrel deserves his own movie.