Directed By: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath and Conrad Vernon
Starring: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith, David Schwimmer, Sacha
Baron Cohen, Frances McDormand, Martin Short, Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston
Synopsis: The gang’s all back – Alex the Lion (Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Rock),
Gloria the Hippo (Smith) and Melman the Giraffe (Schwimmer) – and they’re
headed to Monte Carlo to find the Penguins and go back to New York City. After
scaring a casino full of humans, Animal Control Captain DuBois (McDormand)
makes it her quest to capture Alex so she can mount his head on her wall. The
gang joins a European circus in an attempt to evade DuBois and get home,
becoming friends with Gia the Jaguar (Chastain), Vitaly the Tiger (Cranston)
and Stefano the Sea Lion (Short).
REVIEW
Andrew:
Hello readers! This afternoon Sarah and I made our usual excursion to the movie
theatre down the street and caught a matinee showing of Madagascar 3: Europe’s MostWanted.
Sarah, we previewed this
film on Thursday along with Prometheus, and we were both excited
to see it, you probably a little more so because you have a special love for
one of the Madagascar films, correct?
Sarah:
Yes, the first one is 100% my favorite of the series. I screened it for my
younger sister before she could watch it back when it first came out, and I
remember sitting in my basement all by myself laughing my head off. So it will
always be my favorite.
But I have to say, this new
entry in the series is pretty darn funny and the 3D is amazing!
A: I
would say I like the first two movies, but of the three I think I like this one
the most. I found myself laughing more during this one for a variety of
reasons, but I think the addition of Martin Short as the Italian circus sea
lion, Stefano, is one of the biggest reasons. He was pretty hysterical – and
not just in making me laugh, but literally his character is hysterical a number
of times. The penguins, per usual, were also great. I love me the penguins
especially Skipper.
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| The gang's all back! Gloria the Hippo, Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra and Melman the Giraffe are trying to get back to NYC in Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted |
And yes, the 3D was
absolutely fantastic. Along with Prometheus, the strength of both
movies this weekend has been that they’ve been incredible examples of what GOOD
3D can do for a movie.
S: Agreed.
You know, what I think makes these movies so funny is that you not only have
your slapstick humor for the kids, but you also have adult humor for the
parents
A:
Let’s be honest, it’s funny but it’s a silly funny.
S:
Yes. The penguins, yet again, were humorous and are really the cherry on top of
this movie. Their quick little remarks you have to pay attention to because
otherwise you’ll miss the humor in them are really some of my favorite parts. I
think the ensemble cast, especially with the addition of Martin Short, Jessica
Chastain and Bryan Cranston really were good additions for people whom you
don’t normally see as voice actors. They did a good job.
A:
It’s not like these are intellectually humorous, you don’t have to think about
it much. It’s a lot of slapstick, a lot of physical humor, which is fine. It
makes us laugh, which is par for the course. But I think what a good animated
film has to do is have heart and all three Madagascar films have really had
their own heart.
 |
| Vitaly the Tiger (Cranston), Gia the Jaguar (Chastain) and Stefano the Sea Lion (Short) are the stars of the circus the gang joins to get back to America. |
This was a good one because
it shows that the characters wanted to go home to NYC, but maybe home wasn’t
exactly what they thought it was now that they’ve seen the rest of the world.
Plus they have other people that they care about or care about them, these
circus animals that they become a part of, so it’s harder to just go back to
the Central Park Zoo.
S: Yeah,
in the second one they kind of go back to their roots, get to see where they
come from, but it’s still not quite them because they’re used to performing in
front of people. And the circus in this one allows them to do that again.
Overall, Madagascar
3 Is funny and I really did enjoy it. Seriously, the 3D is amazing. If
you’re going to see this in theatres, see it in 3D because there’s a circus
scene that just blew my mind. It was like a Cirque de Soleil on the screen. It
was really cool.
A:
This movie is a visual feast. It’s really worth the extra dollars to see it in
3D. I’m sure it’s fine in 2D and is just as funny, but it won’t LOOK as
stunning. Ok, real quick, I was also a fan of the little English dogs that turn
out to be like English gangsters. They were funny. But I was not a big fan of
Frances McDormand’s character, Captain Chantel DuBois. It’s not her fault, I thought
she did fine voice acting but…
S: She
didn’t add a ton to the story.
A:
Exactly. Obviously she was the conflict that the film needed, but it wasn’t
much. She made me laugh a few times, or the people that encountered her made me
laugh I should say.
 |
| The Penguins are back, led by Skipper (front), and are Andrew's favorite part of the film (again). They'll also track you down if you don't see this film in 3D. |
I also liked the music, I
was a big fan of the French music they use, including one song by Edith Piaf
that DuBois actually sings. I recognized it as the song the characters in
Christopher Nolan’s Inception use as the kick to wake them up from the dreams, and
using Journey’s “Any Way You Want It” was kind of random but I love Journey so
I was okay with it.
S:
Yeah, I loved Katy Perry’s “Firework” for the circus scene. The music was fun
and kept the movie upbeat.
Madagascar 3 is definitely one to take the kids to see, or maybe
for a light date. Whereas Prometheus was the dark, adult movie
to come out this weekend, this one is just pure fun and I definitely think
they’ve hit the nail on the head yet again.
A:
Will we own this one? We don’t own any of the others.
S: We
don’t, but it will definitely be one that family members will own it and we’ll
watch it.
A: And
of course, as we said earlier, definitely see it on the big screen and see it
in 3D! As always, thanks for reading!
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| (Out of Five Clapboards) |
Photo Courtesies: Movie Carpet, Time, About.com, New Raleigh
Thanks for the review, guys :)
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