Romano, who last year concluded a nine-year run on the smash series “Everybody Loves Raymond,” notes that the first film’s heart, humor and adventure appealed to adults as much as young people. He was particularly pleased that Manny’s story is again the emotional core. “Every time I watch ‘Ice Age’ and see Manny, I go, ‘That’s the big guy; the big guy that we love.
“I love Manny as a character, and I love playing him,” Romano continues. “His values and spirit are terrific. He’s a curmudgeon with a big chip on his shoulder and a tough exterior. But underneath that, he’s all warm and fuzzy – for a mammoth, at least.”
And how did Romano feel about Manny’s first attempts at romance? “Ellie gives Manny a twinkle in his eye. But unfortunately she’s a bit ‘off’, so it’s not smooth sailing. Though it was easy to make that work, because I was able to rely on my own lack of knowledge about talking to women,” he jokes.
“Actually, it was exciting to be in an on-screen romance,” he adds. “But I had to remind myself it’s an animated film, right? Queen Latifah, who voices Ellie, wasn’t even in the same recording booth as me!” John Leguizamo was eager to explore new facets of Sid. “There was still unfinished business left over from ‘Ice Age’ that I was eager to get into,” says the actor, known for both his work in hit movies, like “Moulin Rouge!” as well as his provocative stand-up concert films. “I wanted to re-create that same lovable character but take him to another level.”
For “Ice Age,” Leguizamo had given Sid a lateral lisp, after learning that sloths store food inside their cheeks. For the new film, Leguizamo spent much time getting back to that distinctive voice, while continually finding ways to add new dimensions to the character. The actor pondered Sid’s principal dilemma. “He wants respect, to be taken seriously,” says Leguizamo. “That’s his quest.”
Sid’s path is closely tied to Diego’s, because, ironically, it’s Sid who figures out Diego’s fear and helps him deal with it. The filmmakers and Denis Leary worked hard on the character’s story arc, connecting it to Sid’s, and thus giving new dimensions to both characters. “Diego and Sid are like brothers,” says Leary, “and Manny’s the older brother.” Leary returns to voice Diego after co-creating, executive producing, writing and starring in the acclaimed series “Rescue Me,” which returns for its third season later this year.
Like Romano and Leguizamo, Leary found much to explore with his character in ICE AGE: THE MELTDOWN. “Ray Romano gets the films’ emotional moments, John the funny ones, but Diego makes it all happen,” says Leary. “Diego is still a leader – smart and strong, but he thinks he may be getting ‘soft’ because of his fear of the water.”
According to Carlos Saldanha, Leary is closely tied to his on-screen character. “It’s difficult to see Denis without seeing Diego, and vice versa,” says the director. “Denis’s edgy humor and sarcastic quality are critical to Diego’s ‘voice.’”
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