MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA

2008, DreamWorks Animation

Animation

Rating: PG

Approx. 90 mins.

THE STORY:

Alex (Ben Stiller), Marty (Chris Rock), Melman (David Schwimmer) and Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) board a penguin-pilotted plane in hopes of returning to their New York zoo home. Things go awry almost immediately, however, when the plane crashes somewhere on an African plain. By coincidence, the watering hole they discover is frequented by a tribe of animals headed by alpha lion, Zuba (Bernie Mac), who happens to be the father from whom Alex was snatched as a cub.

The happy homecoming is complicated when Alex fails to pass a rite of passage and has to be banished from the tribe. Zuba can't bear to renounce his son and relinquishes his role. Alex soon gets a chance to prove himself, however, when he sets off to discover why the watering hole has dried up. With the help of his entourage, he fixes the blockage and is able to return to the community with his father as joint leaders. 
  

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• fatso
• stupid

VIOLENCE:

• a fair bit of fighting, punching, kicking, hitting, etc. with no serious consequences
• a penguin and a woman appear to be run over, but both are unscathed

TEACHING POINTS:

• friends listen to friends and empathize
• parents (and others) should accept their children's differences-- what makes them unique makes them themselves

THE UPSHOT:

Yes, there is quite a lot of fighting and combat, but this movie is hilarious. The 5 year-old in the room and the grown-ups in the room were all in stitches at the jokes, the slapstick, the references and at King Julian (Sacha Baron Cohen) in general. The penguins are also complete scene-stealers.

This installment is by far my favourite of the series. I still enjoy it after at least 20 forced viewings. The characters, the story, the animation, the music, the script: it all just works.  

4.5/5