Madagascar

The other day, while babysitting for my 3 year old grandson Alex, I decided to take a little trip with him to Madagascar when I found the DVD my daughter had just bought for the kids on top of their Television…What a great opportunity for a little down time to rest a bit I thought…Needless to say that is not what happened when the rip roaring song, "Move It" began! We couldn't sit still when that was playing as we danced around the living room laughing our heads off moving to the tune along with the "stars" of the film.


What a fun movie Madagascar is, one for children of all ages…The story is simple…After four very pampered and spoiled animals, who live in Central Park Zoo, celebrate the birthday of Marty the Zebra, (Chris Rock). Marty decides to run away from the Zoo when 4 of the other zoo's inhabitants, the perky penguins, do the same…Marty, soon discovers all is not perfect in the outside world…One scene I loved was when he walking down the street ala John Travalta, to the tune of "Staying Alive" as he spots a lady wearing a Zebra striped coat…So clever was that scene I just sat there with a smile on my face.


Soon the other 3 stars of the movie discover he is gone...Alex the Lion, (Ben Stiller) Gloria the Hippo,
(Jada Pinkett Smith) and Melman the Giraffe, (David Schwimmer) and take off after him. The subway system and Grand Central Station will never be the same after these lively creatures create havoc while searching for Marty.


It isn't long before they are spotted in Grand Central and are captured by the police and Zookeepers, who decide they should be back in the wild so are crated up and sent off to Africa. But, before they arrive, they are ship wrecked and find themselves washed ashore on the wild and wooly island of Madagascar…. It is here they find out what a real jungle is… Soon they meet up with the locals of that island, a type of Lemur who's King Julian rules the roost. These animals love to party until their enemy the carnivorous Fousas show up. It is at this time that Alex learns he is really a predator himself and has to deal with that reality with some almost shocking results when he starts craving thick juicy steaks and wants to take a bite out of Marty's butt when it appears to him to look like a big juicy steak! Life in the jungle is certainly not like life in Central Park Zoo.


I have to say here that as much as I enjoyed the movie I just loved the animation and look of the film.
New York City skyline never looked better as viewed from the zoo. The details were outstanding, even so far as the famous landmarks, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and even the venerable old hotel, the Essex House appears in the distance. Grand Central Station was so realistic I was ready to hop a train. The jungle scenes looked so alive with all the various creatures who lived there and were outstanding as well. And lets not forget the silly Penguins in the scenes where they made sushi and went off to the Antarctica.


This film is another fantastic accomplishment from DreamWorks Production who also gave us the animated hits Sharks tale and Shrek II so the art of animation is no stranger to those folks and it shows clearly here.


Madagascar is truly is a fun movie for children of all ages but don't expect to rest when the music plays, you have to get up and move it!


Cast:
Alex the Lion - Ben Stiller
Marty the Zebra - Chris Rock
Melman the Giraffe - David Schwimmer
Gloria the Hippo - Jada Pinkett Smith
King Julien - Sacha Baron Cohen
Maurice - Cedric the Entertainer
Mort - Andy Richter



Certified Lean and Mean Review Please check out all the others.