The original Ice Age still holds up as a heartfelt, creative family comedy. Despite its sequels, which gradually abandoned any sense of realism, and transformed into kids’ movies rather than family movies. Still, an entire generation grew up on these, and there are truly genuine fans. Besides, the original characters remain consistently true to themselves, no matter the new additions or waning stories. The first film generates a lot of investment, and there are gems of slick comedy scattered throughout the series. So, brace for nostalgia as we have a look back at some of the funniest quotes from the entire franchise.
Something Much, Much Dumber
Neil deGrasse Tyson is probably the most famous scientist in pop culture right now. He’s played himself, or some variant of that, in numerous movies and TV shows. He officially showed up in the DCEU, and even voiced himself on The Simpsons. It’s pretty astonishing for any scientist to end up popular to begin with. But it makes for a fun cameo in a series that has completely disregarded physics or plausibility. This contrast is innately funny, and Tyson gets to both open and close Ice Age: Collision Course. That latest sequel barely has traces of its superior roots. However, at least Tyson gets to prod the lunacy of Scrat’s exponentially escalating adventures.
Six Months Of Therapy
This was a surprising recurring joke about the immaturity and simplicity of guys. Dawn of the Dinosaurs was pretty surprising in general, delivering more innovation and jokes per minute than The Meltdown. It makes no sense, but Sid does offer a meta joke about the ridiculousness of dinosaurs in a later sequel. In any case, this joke about guys punching each other to communicate is hilarious. It’s also a great way to handle the relationship between Diego and Manny. In fact, it’s the only perceivable way a tough guy like Diego could possibly approach sentimentality. This is one of those jokes that’s funny because it’s true.
You Know, Before He Came Out
This probably went over the heads of most kids in the audience. That, or they ended up spending a lot of years thinking the phrase genuinely refers to caterpillars. But it’s always appreciated when this series is willing to commit to mature jokes. It’s bolder, and more interesting for the parents. Besides, it’s definitely a clever play on words anyhow. How else could you describe a butterfly emerging from its cocoon? It’s one of many throwaway lines from Buck, who is superbly voiced by Simon Pegg. Buck is probably the most organically introduced addition to the original cast.
Leaving Broccoli A Vegetable
Simon Pegg, known for Shaun of the Dead and J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek films, was perfectly cast for Buck. The comedic style he brandishes is infectious, and unique. It’s fast, but also witty, and well-suited to a rogue character like Buck. Also, it fits because Buck is occasionally completely out of his mind. Buck was something of a controversial character for some fans, but his little monologues are pretty well-written. This selected quote is a great example, wherein Buck tries to piece together what happened to Sid. Buck posits that Sid fought a dinosaur, leaving it a vegetable. After Diego quickly points out Sid’s lack of coordination, Buck changes his mind. He concludes that the dinosaur was victorious, and left Sid’s broccoli a vegetable instead. It’s a silly play on words, but well-earned, and befitting of the character’s madness.
Maybe He’ll Grow Fur
Diego is essentially a tough guy archetype, and Denis Leary’s dry, monotone voice fits him just right. It’s interesting to see the cracks in Diego’s armor, throughout the series. Saber-toothed Tigers inherently look tough, but Diego can be pretty sentimental. In Ice Age, he turns against his own pack. He gains sympathy for a human, and of course joins the Herd. But he’s also shortly revealed to have fun during the tunnel chase, for possession of the baby.
Of course, although Sid and Manny bring out the good in him, Diego’s attitude remains. So we end up with a gruff, teasing character who gets all the best insults. In this selection, Sid suggested that the baby human might remember the Herd and become a benevolent human. Diego responds that “maybe he’ll grow fur, and a long, skinny neck and call you Mama” with terrific mocking. It points out Sid’s seeming naivité, and with Leary’s delivery, the punchline is very memorable.
He’s Not Even My Dog
Manny has a decidedly sarcastic sense of humor, defined by voice actor Ray Romano. He more or less sustains a love/hate relationship with the Herd. But no matter what transpires, he remains loyal and supportive. Romano’s style of comedy is perfectly suited to a large, lumbering character with a lot of sorrow and heart. And when he teases, it can be pretty biting. But it’s also something of a self-defense mechanism, pretending to keep friends at arm’s reach. In this quote, he equates Sid to the pet of a hypothetical dog.
They Kinda Migrated Without Me
Sid is a consistently immature and unintelligent character. However, he garners a lot of sympathy for his determination and empathy. Besides Scrat, he gets the most slapstick humor. But John Leguizamo’s lispy smartmouthing also carries a lot of personality. The contrast of Sid’s adamant, confident attitude and his profound ineptitude make for some great laughs. At times, he has delusions of grandeur. Elsewhere, he’s pretty humble—but always verbose. In this selection, he explains how far his family was willing to go to leave him behind. It earns him sympathy, but we can also imagine why.
Not The Best Husband Or Father
Often, it’s pretty heartwarming how loyal Manny is to the Herd. They’re the newfound family that first helped him open up after his tragic past. Long before Ellie, and Buck is quick to point out Manny’s shortsightedness in Dawn of the Dinosaurs. Momentarily, Manny regrets the way he treated Sid. However, Buck quickly acknowledges that Manny is actually risking himself and his family to rescue Sid. In fact, it’s something of a meta joke. It points out how the writers are willing to manufacture adventure in a way that includes the full ensemble cast.
So You Got Three Melons?
The Dodo birds were an inventive, hilarious addition to the story. Their stupidity doesn’t get out of hand, when it easily could have. In fact, the sequels were unfortunately willing to allow exactly that kind of weakness. Many of the jokes involving the Dodos are genuinely funny, including the loss of the last female. However, they’re also described as absolute crackpots, even though they’re actually right this time. They correctly predict the Ice Age, but they’re just too unintelligent to plan for it well. After a rant about the severe conditions upon them, Sid himself points out how tiny their stockpile is.
You Have Really Tiny Brains
This quote is from a fantastic scenario all around, in the original film. The Ice Age has reduced food to a minimum, and the whole dandelion salad ordeal is hilarious. Two Rhinos are savoring their meal, when Sid abruptly wanders in from a previous scene with manure on his feet. His obliviousness is funny, but the insults that follow are great. Sid, whose intelligence is often the butt of many jokes, tells the Rhinos how stupid they are. He basically offends them in every possible way, and his subsequent cowardice is priceless.
