Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (DreamWorks/Paramount)
Fun But Not Overly Funny
Smaller kids will enjoy Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa because the movie has a lot going on in it and is a lot of fun. Adults will not enjoy it as much because the movie isnt overly funny. There are funny moments here and there but in total the movie is lacking in laugh out loud occurrences.
When the movie opens the animals from the New York Zoo are trying to get back home. This includes Alex the lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Gloria the hippopotamus (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer). Aboard are also King Julien (Sacha Baron Cohen) and his sidekick Maurice (Cedric the Entertainer) as well as the super smart penguins and the occasional monkey.
The plane only gets so far ands then it crashes in a wild life preserve in Africa. There Alex reconnects with his parents (Bernie Mac and Sherrie Shepherd). Zuba, Alexs father, has some troubles going on as his rival Makunga (Alec Baldwin) is trying to take over as head of his pride.
If you didnt see the first Madagascar then you might feel a bit lost when Melman starts declaring his love for Gloria, or the Skipper fixates on a dancing doll. Its like you have walked in during the middle of the first act.
The funniest segments of the movie involve the penguins. They are always good for a chuckle or two. The main characters are loveable and fun to watch but they arent overly funny.
The children around me appeared to be loving the movie. They laughed at anything and everything, and they could have cared less about the plot. In that respect the movie is a total success.
The movie is rated PG for mild violence.
Take your kids and grandkids to see this film. They will laugh and love it. And you wont be bored. You just wont be overly entertained. Unlike The Lion King or Shrek this one is aimed at the kids and not the adults who will accompany them.
I scored Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa a continental 5 out of 10.
