Reel News: Week of July 9 — Ice Age: Continental Drift, Beasts of the Southern Wild, American Reunion

Theatrical Releases This Week

Ice Age: Continental Drift
Director: Steve Martino and Michael Thurmeier
PG; 87 mins
Trailer

Scrat’s nutty pursuit of the cursed acorn, which he’s been after since the dawn of time, has world-changing consequences – a continental cataclysm that triggers the greatest adventure of all for Manny, Diego and Sid. In the wake of these upheavals, Sid reunites with his cantankerous Granny, and the herd encounters a ragtag menagerie of seafaring pirates determined to stop them from returning home. (Synopsis by the Official Site)

This is a far cry from the inventiveness which made the first film in the series standout. It’s still solid family fun with soaring adventure, but the story is stale and the characters have begun to wear out their welcome. At this point it is probably best to let the series drift out to sea on an ice floe.

Beasts of the Southern Wild
Director: Benh Zeitlin
PG-13; 92 mins
Trailer

In a forgotten but defiant bayou community cut off from the rest of the world by a sprawling levee, a six-year-old girl exists on the brink of orphanhood. Buoyed by her childish optimism and extraordinary imagination, she believes that the natural world is in balance with the universe until a fierce storm changes her reality. Desperate to repair the structure of her world in order to save her ailing father and sinking home, this tiny hero must learn to survive unstoppable catastrophes of epic proportions. (Synopsis by Fox Searchlight)

A mixture of fantasy and reality, as seen by a child, creates a fantastic vehicle to tell this story. But while the tale is poetic, the finer points of the film are lacking the finesse required. However, this Southern gothic tale survives on the strength of the young star and the lyricism of the scenery.

DVD Releases This Week

American Reunion
Director: Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg
R; 110 mins.
Trailer

In the comedy American Reunion, all the American Pie characters we met a little more than a decade ago return to East Great Falls for their high-school reunion. In one long-overdue weekend, they will discover what has changed, who hasn’t and that time and distance can’t break the bonds of friendship. It was summer 1999 when four small-town Michigan boys began a quest to lose their virginity. In the years that have passed, Jim and Michelle married while Kevin and Vicky said goodbye. Oz and Heather grew apart, but Finch still longs for Stifler’s mom. Now these lifelong friends have come home as adults to reminisce about-and get inspired by-the hormonal teens who launched a comedy legend. (Synopsis by Universal)

Rest assured, it will meet all of your expectations—low as they may be. Continuing the string of “comedy” films using crudeness instead of humor, there is nothing new or likeable here.