The story's meatier and the animation is even more spectacular than the first Madagascar
movie.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa brings back the best elements of
Madagascar,
including the familiar critters: Alex the lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris
Rock), Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett-Smith), Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer),
and my personal favorite – the loony lemur, King Julien (Sacha Baron Cohen). Even
little Mort, the world's most adorable animated lemur (you know you just want to
pet his little head every time you see him on screen), returns for more adventures.
Building on the characters we grew to love in
Madagascar, the writers have
added a herd of new creatures who are just as fully fleshed out and entertaining.
In fact, in many ways
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is a better movie than
Madagascar. The first film established the personality of each of the animated
animals so now the writers are free to leap right into the story. The friendship
between the four Central Park refugees is stronger after having spent time away
from the comfy confines of the zoo. The old 'home is where your heart is' adage
comes into play. And there's even a budding romance featured in
Madagascar 2,
which is sweet to watch develop (no matter your age). Plus, this one's got striking
monkeys demanding pregnancy leave, more screen time for King Julien, and the return
of the New York granny who kicks furry butt like Jet Li on steroids.
This
Madagascar sequel picks up right where the 2005 film left off, with
the Central Park Zoo animals preparing to leave Madagascar to return to the Big
Apple. Attempting to prove penguins can fly, the tuxedoed dudes pieced together
a plane and now Alex and company, along with King Julien and his 2nd in charge,
Maurice, believe they're on the way back to New York City. But penguins, as we soon
discover, are not qualified to be airplane mechanics.
The plane crash lands in Africa which turns out to be the best place on the planet
for our NY gang to wind up – if they can't make it back to the States. Their plummet
to earth couldn't have worked out better if it'd been planned. The four zoo buddies,
the penguin posse, and the lemur duo find themselves face to face with wild animals
of their own kind. And for Alex, this unexpected detour is actually a homecoming.
The king of the lions, Zuba (Bernie Mac), and his mate (voiced by Sherri Shepherd)
turn out to be Alex's real parents.
Everyone's happy to finally get to know members of their own species in the wild,
but the reunion between Alex and his parents doesn't please all members of the pride.
