Ice Age: The Meltdown is a pleasant, if a tad inferior sequel, but at least the jokes are intentional whereas the laughter evoked in another recent follow-up (I don't want to name names-BASIC INSTINCT 2) are purely accidental.

Ice Age: The Meltdown follows the further adventures of Manny the Mammoth (voiced by Ray Romano), Diego the Tiger (voiced by Denis Leary), and Sid the Sloth (voiced by John Leguizamo) as they make the long trek to safety after they learn of an impending flood resulting from their melting domain. During their journey, the unlikely threesome come across Ellie (voiced by Queen Latifah), a nine ton Mammoth who thinks she's a possum - don't ask.

For the most part, Ice Age: The Meltdown is harmless fun, although parents should know there are a few mild naughty words (including "damn" and "ass") and a couple of obvious potty jokes (one of which is a pretty funny gag involving a family of dung beetles).

The screenplay actually offers up a few scenes of inspired lunacy. There's a great bit in which a flock of vultures break into a hilariously bizarre Busby Berkeley musical number as they circle a pack of potentially doomed animals who they hope will quickly become their next meal. In another, Sid is taken to a valley of sloths where he is worshiped as a higher being (bringing to mind that sequence in Return of the Jedi in which C-3PO is mistaken for a God).

As expected, that nutty, acorn chasing squirrel is back and he provides the film with some of it's most hearty laughs. This was more than evident as a crazy lady behind me at the screening kept squealing giddily every time the cute little creature would appear on screen. Don't ever underestimate the power squirrels have over women.

The animation style has nothing on the incredible works of Pixar, but as far as non-Disney computer animated features go, I would rank these films (along with Shrek) as solid family entertainment. At the very least, I enjoyed this flick considerably more than Madagascar.

Ice Age: The Meltdown lacks what little drama the first installment had to offer but as a metaphor for the power of family, it's effective enough. I also enjoyed the whole "Noah's Ark" motif.

In a nutshell (if you'll pardon the pun), The Meltdown isn't as strong as it's predecessor, but it has enough energy, offbeat charm, and charismatic vocal work to offer up a recommendation. My kids sure loved it. You can't give a better endorsement than that.