CLEMENTINE'S REVIEWS

17th March 2009
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)

Writers: Etan Cohen, Eric Darnell & Tom McGrath
Directors: Eric Darnell & Tom McGrath
Starring: Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett Smith, David Schwimmer, Chris  Rock, Alec Baldwin

On their way back home, the four stars of New York zoo find  themselves thrown off course into the heart of Africa - their motherland. Our favourite characters are back to their adventures and antics as they each go on their personal journey. Alex (Stiller) is reunited with his family but not everything goes smoothly, Marty (Rock) finds his herd but struggles with his individuality, Gloria (Pinkett Smith) looks for love, and Melman (Schwimmer) stumbles on what might be the perfect career.

It seemed like a really short movie. The premise of getting back in touch with Africa is fun. Most of the elements seem overly familiar, the Lion King aspect of the evil beta lion figure Makunga (Baldwin) vying for power; the Madgascar 1 testing of friendship; the Happy Feet shame of dancing by parents; but none of these dwell too long and the characters bounce back with humour. I would severely edit all the scenes with the meerkats and penguins - far too overused material when the main four characters are so interesting and fun themselves. I liked all their storylines, paricularly Alex and Marty's and wished we could have spent more time with them. Alec Baldwin is a welcome new voice. Overall not brilliant material but some really good laughs.