Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Year: 2008
Rating: PG
Length: 89 minutes / 1.48 hours
It’s interesting how sometimes the first sequel in a franchise can deliver the plot the first movie promised. While Madagascar (2005) was more a “fish out of water” adventure with jerky animation and humor way over the kids’ heads, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) really showed the contrast between these zoo animals with their contemporaries in Africa. This comparison felt like a much better plot device than the cringe-worthy way the first movie handled the idea of zoo animals living in the wild.
The jokes in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa felt less unhinged from its predecessor. That they played into each of the sub-plots better helped more than just being a string of pop culture references that didn’t quite fit the setting. The best gag of course was none of the group being able to pick out Marty from the herd of zebra (in the, “you all look the same” vibe) that, despite its racist roots, accentuated the “Am I a black zebra with white stripes instead of a white zebra with black stripes?” identity of Marty.
Each of the main cast has their own sub-plot that played off their quirks and provided them room for character development. Alex (Ben Stiller) finds himself in true competition for hierarchy, Melman (David Schwimmer) takes advantage of his hypochondria, Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) learns what it’s like to be loved for her personality, and Marty (Chris Rock) doesn’t want to be just one zebra in a herd. Meanwhile, the penguins and lemurs are doing their penguin and lemur things, which is hilarious as always. Ultimately, everything fits together to advance the group’s journey to return home to New York while also using their home of origin to highlight their unique personalities.
A better focused sequel from DreamWorks, I give Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa 3.5 stars out of 5.
1/2
