Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa / Madagascar 2
2008
****
Director: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath
Cast: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter, Bernie Mac, Sherri Shepherd, Alec Baldwin, Elisa Gabrielli
The animals of the Central Park Zoo finally flee Madagascar for New York, but their makeshift plane crash-lands in Africa. There Alex the Lion is reunited with his parents, while Marty, Melman and Gloria meet members of their own respective species living in the wild. Madagascar was a likeable but rather formulaic animation. The sequel has a skeletal plot and it recycles the favourite bits from the original (for example, the song I Like to Move It), and yet it is more fun that the first one. The film adds more depth to the characters, and the results are often hilarious. Followed by Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted.
