'Moonrise Kingdom,' 'Ice Age: Continental Drift,' 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' reviewed by Mr. Moviefone

07/13/2012 by 'Mr. Moviefone' Russ Leatherman

This weekend at the movies, there's a little calm before the "Dark Night" storm as only one wide release hits theaters. But what better way to beat the heat than a nice cool theater and a movie with a lotta ice?

No, it's not Vanilla. Scratt and all his prehistoric friends are back in the latest installment of "Ice Age: Continental Drift."

An incident with an acorn triggers an Earth-altering event that sends the Ice Age animals on an epic adventure. While trying to find their way back home, Manny, voiced by Ray Romano, and his sidekicks are forced to battle pirates along with the dangers of the ocean.

The Reel Deal: Even as the franchise starts to drift and melt away, there's still enough there to keep the undemanding youngsters engaged for an hour and a half, so for them, I'm in.

OK, how about a couple movies for grownups this weekend? First up is the mystical tale set in a southern bayou, "Beasts of the Southern Wild."

The movie follows a 6-year-old girl named "Hushpuppy," whose Delta community is facing a natural disaster of epic proportions. Temperatures soar, ice caps melt and waters rise, leaving the tight-knit group stranded. Only the young girl's strong will and imagination can help them survive.

The Reel Deal: Unlike anything you'll see this summer, "Beasts of the Southern Wild" is an amazing journey with a little girl you'll never forget. I'm in.

And if you haven't seen it yet, now might be the perfect time to check out the new Wes Anderson flick, "Moonrise Kingdom."

Yes, the director of movies like "The Royal Tenenbaums" and "Fantastic Mr. Fox" takes us to 1960s era New England, where two very unique 12-year-olds hatch a plan to run away together in the wilderness. As they fall in love under the stars, a hunt ensues to find them. Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Bruce Willis and Frances McDormand co-star.

The Reel Deal: Quirky, imaginative, and full of great characters, "Moonrise Kingdom" is funny, lovely, and the perfect antidote to the big summer blockbusters. I'm in.

For all your showtimes, tickets, my Six Second Reviews and so much more, go to America's favorite movie guide, Moviefone.com, or you can call 1-800-777-FILM. If you want to drop me a note it's MrMoviefone@aol.com or Facebook.com/mrmoviefone.