Ice Age: Collision Course

The “Ice Age” saga continues with yet another global crisis caused by Scrat the Squirrel’s attempt to capture the elusive acorn. This time, Scrat accidentally sends a frozen spaceship into space. The ship collides with a huge asteroid and sends it hurdling toward Earth.

When Buck the Wiesel discovers an ancient prophecy that foretells the extinction of mammals because of an asteroid, Manny and the herd must attempt to divert the asteroid’s path by moving a magnetic rock to divert the asteroid away. Will they succeed, or will it be the end of the Ice Age?

Like all “Ice Age” movies, there is a lot of potty humor. Posteriors are referred to as “butts” and are shown and mentioned several times. There is a bowel movement that is almost eaten. Characters playfully insult each other; one character tells another that he does a lot of “sucking” at hockey. A father tells his son that he is basically “useless.” There is a lot of slapstick violence, and one character tries to kill another. There is some sexual content, as well. Characters are hit in the groin, male characters cross-dress as females in suggestive ways, and males have items placed over their nipples. One character gives another a bikini. A character is seen showering behind a curtain and rubbing himself with a towel in suggestive ways. Characters are in a hot tub together.

The main issues with this movie are spiritual; however, parents can use these issues to teach their children biblical truth. At the beginning of film, it is suggested that Scrat accidentally created the Solar System. However, it is shown in such a ridiculous way that even a child would know Creation didn’t happen that way. Nevertheless, this is a great opportunity to remind kids that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). One character thinks she has died and refers to winged animals as “angels” and a “demon angel.” Another character repeatedly mentions the Universe in a way similar to Hindu Brahman; she says “maybe the Universe is telling us something,” and “the Universe smiled on us.” When things are going well, one character says “Somebody up there likes us,” and when events take a turn for the worse, says, “Somebody up there doesn’t like us.” This could be a lesson that contrary to popular belief, our circumstances do not generally reflect God’s feeling for us (Lamentations 3:22).

Another character supposedly “sees all and knows all,” but the audience learns later that this character is an Eastern spirituality guru, of sorts, who is completely selfish and oblivious to the danger around him. This can be a lesson that there are many people in this world who are following a false god and are oblivious to the reality of eternal hell, and it is our duty to lovingly tell them the Truth of the gospel (Matthew 28:16-20). There are crystals that give eternal youth; parents can use these crystals to tell kids about the eternal life that is offered through Jesus’ sinless life, substitutionary death and resurrection. Finally, the characters try to stop a prophecy, and parents can use this to tell children that God’s prophecies cannot be stopped, no matter what people try to do; they can trust what is written in God’s word (2 Timothy 3:16).

As in all “Ice Age” movies, this movie sends a message of working together and the value of friendship and family.

While “Ice Age:Collision Course” is rife with offensive material, it also presents parents with an opportunity to tell children about God. If you are offended easily, I would recommend passing this one up. However, if you figure the “Ice Age” saga has too many redeeming values to ignore, you can use the offensive material to show the difference between the world’s wisdom and God’s Truth and teach some points about the character of God.

Violence: Mild to moderate / Language: Minor / Sex/Nudity: Mild

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.