Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
A plague of locusts strikes the Great Valley, decimating the plants and forcing the dinosaurs to migrate in search of food. When the adults in the herd begin fighting over the scarce resources, young Littlefoot and his friends Petrie, Cera, Ducky and Spike split off from the main group, becoming stranded on an island after their path was destroyed by a tsunami. As they search for a way off the island, they encounter an old acquaintance who may become friend or foe.
The fifth installment in the Land Before Time franchise is a thoroughly formulaic direct-to-video sequel. The plot rehashes familiar themes of separation, survival, and friendship with a locust plague and island stranding offering little fresh tension. The voice acting is serviceable but unremarkable for a low-budget animated production. The cinematography/animation is noticeably cheaper than the theatrical original with flat, limited movement and backgrounds. Novelty is low as it recycles the same character dynamics and moral lessons from prior entries without meaningful innovation. The ending resolves predictably with reunification and friendship affirmed, offering no surprises. It delivers adequately for very young fans of the series but stands as a middling, derivative entry across all dimensions.