SkimIt
This weekend two very different movies -- the family-friendly Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted and the Alien prequel, Prometheus -- both had very strong openings, furthering the sense that summer 2012 will be a very strong box office season. Now let's see if the following upcoming movies will continue that trend.
Ice Age: Continental Drift (opening July 13)
The Details: The fourth film in the hugely popular series of animated comedies (rated PG) follows Manny, Sid and Diego as the breakup of the continents leaves them stranded on an iceberg at the mercy of a gang of anthropomorphic pirates. Ray Romano, John Leguizamo and Denis Leary reprise their starring roles with Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott, Jennifer Lopez, Peter Dinklage and many others rounding out the cast. Steve Martino and Mike Thurmeier direct.
The Trailer: The Ice Age movies always look competently made, fitfully amusing and vaguely uninspired to me. The trailer promises this installation will be 100% more of the same, with the addition of Nicki Minaj and Drake in minor roles. Do you ever get the idea that they actually record several about-to-break pop stars for these parts and whichever ones end up hitting the charts, that's whose voice they use in the movie? Like maybe somewhere there's a version of this film where Janelle Monae and Bruno Mars are doing those voices.
What's The Buzz: Meh. It's an Ice Age movie. They could release a trailer that was nothing but two and a half minutes of Scrat picking his nose and every child under ten in America will be in the theater opening weekend.
