So I got invited to a test screening of the new Madagascar movie yesterday and thought I'd post my thoughts on the flick here. I really don't know if people were dying to see a sequel to the original but it's here. FYI- the movie was about 65% complete so there were stretches of the film that were shown in the storyboard stage of production. I also sent this into AICN so you may or may not see it on that site as well.


I have a soft spot for animated films and tend to hold them in a higher regard than live action when they work (see Pixar's "Wall E" and "Ratatouille") but revile them when they don't (think the last "Shrek" movie). So it was with a certain degree of anticipation that I greeted this afternoon's test screening of Dreamworks Animation's "Madagscar Escape 2 Africa." I was familiar with the first film but skipped it thinking it was more of the same from the house that Katzenberg built. If its sequel is any indication, I was probably right in my original assertion but that's not to say this new film doesn't have its merits for fans of the first.

The plot of the film involves a botched plan for the characters in the first film to return to Manhattan via a patchwork plane ride launched by slingshot. As you can guess by the title and trailer currently making the rounds, the trip is unsuccessful and they manage to find themselves in Africa. I was at a loss as to why they would want to leave their adoptive home since they seemed to get along with all of the other characters at this point in the narrative and even decided to bring a few along with them for the ride. I also wasn't sure why the film wasn't subtitled "Escape 2 New York" since that's their original destination, but nevermind, this film has story points to navigate that supersede logic in favor of frivolity and fun.

There's little point discussing the rest of the story as the new characters serve only to provide motivation for the established ones to overcome obstacles put in place by the screenwriters while Alex and the gang wait around until their plane is ready to take flight again. The problem is that the film itself never adheres to its own conventions and disregards certain new faces who should provide a challenge to Alex as he tries to save the day and win favor in the social circle of the animal kingdom. There is a certain degree of misdirection by the filmmakers who setup characters to be antagonists but are bushed aside and dealt with by minor characters from the earlier entry. There is no real threat posed by the film's villain, a scheming lion with an Elvis coif who hopes to usurp the current ruler's role as king of the jungle. He comes off as more nuisance than nemesis.

The film itself is more cartoon than animated film. It lacks the subtlety and thoughtfulness of a "Pinocchio" in favor of a slapstick tone that even undercuts the movie's more tender moments between parent and son. Still, it's hard to argue someone out of a belly laugh and the film had several moments that elicited such a reaction from the entire audience. I found it strange that many of the film's best gags were more adult in nature than kid friendly. Infact, there was very little in the way of typical kid friendly jokes or references in this movie. Most of the humor centered on juvenille innuendoes and racial jokes that left me wondering just how many tweens in the audience would know what "Roots" is or why a zebra from Manhattan would have access to a copy but I suppose that could be fodder for a third entry in the series given the direction its headed.

There really isn't much more to say about the film as it feels so thin and rushed in its present state and revealing any more would spoil some of the movie's most memorable moments involving a group of monkeys lead by some very crafty and apparently warm weathered penguins as they struggle to rebuild their tortured derelict of a plane. Basically, what we have here is an excuse to spend more time with characters that you may love and might remember from a film that was released three years ago. If that sounds like a good time to you or your children then you probably won't be disappointed with this sequel. To anyone still on the fence, I will say that "Madagascar Escape 2 Africa" delivers on the promise of its trailer and that if you aren't sold on this film by now then you should probably sit it out.