Carlos Saldanha
L'Era Glaciale 3: l'alba dei dinosauri

LA RECENSIONE

The evening is inevitably -and perfectly- dezzamerriganway.

First a strict McDonald's, followed by a strict multiplex with strict glasses and excessive volume.

We'll let go of the review of the Mac and just say there was a sense of inspection (or a new boss): a very kind and never-before-seen runner was making an army of extremely efficient rookies hustle as if we were in military service. And the burger was strangely fresh, good, and super seasonned.

But let's focus on the cinema.

Having a daughter of nearly five years old, it's evident that many cartoons are known by heart. Perfectly. Just like the first two "Ice Age". As always happens, the first benefits from the novelty effect, you laugh a lot and find it brilliant. The second is a "yes, but..."; and now this. In the phantasmagorical "3D".

Well: I was somewhat entertained, but I wasn't moved.

And then the spontaneous question arises: is it me or the "rest"?

Is it me, who is irreparably old, who has seen too much, has been moved and entertained too much, so much that everything seems "already seen"?

Or is it the lack of ideas, now inherent in every new production, the inevitable opportunism of the scripts, the special effect that no longer amazes anyone, the necessity of conceiving every audio/visual work as an exclusive and pure diversion. As mere entertainment?

Obviously -also to preserve my mental youth- I am inclined to believe the second hypothesis.

Let's go in order: the script. Beautiful, obviously written with great professionalism. But inevitably opportunistic. A bit of "adult" jokes, mostly referencing the eighties (even the soundtrack...), and an avalanche of cheap cabaret jokes, the kind that have been rampant over the last ten/fifteen years. In short: the buzzword (managerially correct) is: "let's please everyone". Mission accomplished.

Special effects: obviously the new 3D is impressive and fun. It probably also helps in maintaining attention and interest. You are "inside" the scene in a really realistic way, as it is unsettling to think that this is probably just another step towards what will come (and who knows what it will be...).

The characters: here too the usual opportunism. The hero, the bungler, the sweetheart, the villain, the slacker, the savvy one. In short: all human characteristics. Again, there’s something for everyone, and that's how it should be.

Thus, the product is perfect in itself. But this ultra-professional perfection brings with it an inversely proportional lack of soul. The characters are perfectly drawn and just as perfectly "framed," but not at all developed. They are what they are, and that's it.

All there, on the surface. Where today's audience (evidently not only Italian...misery loves company) likes to stay. Having fun and looking at the horizon line. Without trying to think that below or above that line, there could be much more interesting worlds....

But then you'd have to think about it… talk about it... And who has the time for that? And the desire...?