Overall Rating:
Score: 8.5/10
Grade: A-
Grade: A-
Family-Friendliness Scale: Level 4 (Great)
Kids ages 6+
Next stops on the supposed New York-headed plane, Monte Carlo, Rome, and London (oh my!).
The third installment of the Madagascar series starts off with Alex (Ben Stiller), Marty (Chris Rock), Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith), Melman (David Schwimmer), along with King Julien (Sacha Baron Cohen), Mort (Andy Richter), and Maurice (Cedric the Entertainer) stuck in Africa after the Penguins and the monkeys took off for Monte Carlo in a hand-built plane. Days after their leave, Alex and his friends decide to go after them in order to get home to New York City. After a failed rescue mission in Monte Carlo, a psychotic animal control officer named Capitaine Chantel DuBois (Frances McDormand) is assigned to go after the animals. But she also wants Alex's head on her wall of trophies. Barely escaping from Monte Carlo, the animals begin flying to New York City, only to crash near Rome, Italy. Being hunted down by both DuBois and the police, the animals seek refuge in a traveling circus, who are in need of a great new act to give them an American tour.
Positive Notes
Madagascar 3 has several positive lessons on overcoming your fears, and dealing with the most problematic moments life can bring. There are also several solid examples on family, friendship, and redemption. Alex is dedicated to getting back to New York City, but he also learns that there's more to life than just being in a zoo. The circus gang learns from Alex and his friends that they can do anything they aspire to do, and that its' OK to go outside of your comfort zone (if its' what you really what to do). One character in particular, Vitaly, feels like he's in charge of his "circus family", but he also learns that the circus doesn't revolve around him, its' a group act.
The voice cast once again brings their A-game for the third time in seven years, and that includes the new additions as well. The music by Hans Zimmer is always fun and at times emotional, and combining the new "Afro Circus" theme with the old "I Like To Move It, Move It" theme is pure genious, making it into a guilty pleasure song/memorable tune. There are several hilarious moments.
One other great thing about Madagascar 3 is that it is a visual treat. Its' super colorful. The animation is well-crafted, along with some effects that would've been great in the 3D format. Midway through the movie, we get a brilliant sequence of colors and computerized effects, combined with Katy Perry's memorable "Firework" song, to make it a scene that will amaze both kids and adults. The European backgrounds are very realistic and look like they came out of a picture book.
One other great thing about Madagascar 3 is that it is a visual treat. Its' super colorful. The animation is well-crafted, along with some effects that would've been great in the 3D format. Midway through the movie, we get a brilliant sequence of colors and computerized effects, combined with Katy Perry's memorable "Firework" song, to make it a scene that will amaze both kids and adults. The European backgrounds are very realistic and look like they came out of a picture book.
Negative Notes
A few off-color jokes. A few scenes of cartoonish and slapstick violence that may frighten little ones. One person is seen smoking a banana, Mort throws up pink icing, and the animals repeatedly lie about being circus animals. Someone blurts out "Bolshevik" as a stand-in for a profanity, while real language is limited to two uses of "heck" and one unfinished "what the...?" Various characters steal and gamble.
Conclusion
I do have to admit (prior to seeing this), I hadn't seen the second movie. But I do own the first Madagascar and I have watched The Penguins of Madagascar on TV a number of times. The first movie was original, funny, and campy, but it had its' issues. Since then, DreamWorks Animation movies have gotten a lot better, and this threequel is just the latest in DreamWorks' road to succeeding.
Upon seeing this, I laughed through a lot of the films' slapstick and humorous moments, and I gazed in awe at the brilliant animation. The scene when the animals perform, in terms of technicality, is nothing short of both brilliant and exciting. And on another strong note, its' noticeably more family-friendly than the other two films. Off-color giggles are much less of a problem, and have been downgraded to Muppets-level humor, while toilet humor and real offensive language, have just about been left back in Africa.
Colorful, hilarious, and a whole lot of fun, Madagascar 3 improves leaps in bounds over its' predecessors. Its' a feel-good movie that definitely will serve as a great kick-off to your kids' summer vacations (while engaging parents along the way).
