(I also think that Blue Sky is getting abused by Fox because they are forcing them to make more unnecessary Ice Age sequels that no one has ever wanted. And I mean NO ONE.)

If there is such a market for that material, it’s disappearing fast. Collision Course opened with $21 million in the US, far below the $30-$35 million projected. Asides from the heavy competition, that’s a clear sign that the franchise, at least in the US, is starting to lose its power.

Slapstick humor may have its crowds, but I think we are starting to see a shift in favorabilty towards a more sophisticated type of humor in animation. Slowly but surely, we are moving away from the type of comedy once popularized by films like Ice Age and Shrek. Now you have animated films like The LEGO Movie, where the humor is more than just a character doing something wacky just because.

I agree about 1 & 3 both being great! Buck was an appealing new character to me & Sid mothering the baby dino’s brought back a similar dynamic from the first. The weaker ones got carried away with annoying gags. It’s disappointing to hear this one is reviewing so poorly, I thought the creative wacky space fantasy could’ve been fun, I thought at first it was going to be a Scrat-Only-Spinoff.
Although it always seemed to me like they were missing the potential of bringing back the human kid. There was such a warmth to the mysterious human/mammoth connection. They had a good run though..maybe they should just make it into a tv series. It could probably do well in a shorter format.

I have a slightly different opinion on this. I loved the first one and was kind of disappointed with the second. However, the third one is my favorite in the whole series and I thought it was hilarious. I laughed so much when I first saw it and still get a good giggle even thinking of some certain parts. Now I didn’t much care for the 4th entry and haven’t seen the 5th yet, but plan on seeing it next week.

Whether or not the series should continue depends on how well this new one does I guess. All I can say is that the commercials make me laugh. Scrat in an astronaut suit doing the running man across the screen is quite amusing. I’m hoping that the 5th installment will at least bring some laughs like that. It’s understandable that these films are not meant to be epic masterpieces and that’s fine. For me, as long as it has quality animation and contains some good humor, I’m satisfied. I feel like there is a market for just some lighthearted, slapstick humor in the world of animation and I feel like these movies are delivering that.

http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2016/07/exclusive-interview-with-galen-chu-co-director-of-ice-age-collision-course-about-the-new-adventure-simon-peggs-return-and-the-franchises-continued-popularity/

If Dawn of the Dinosaurs was when the franchise started to hit the rocks creatively, Continental Drift was when it became clear that they (the writers and directors) have stopped caring.

It’s really sad (and maddening) because there are clearly some very talented, creative wizards behind the computer screens at Blue Sky. They just need better projects to work with.