“Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa”, is the latest film from directors Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath.
The movie shows the history of how Alex got separated from his family and ended up in New York City.
The background information the screen writer Etan Cohen gives in the beginning of the movie explains the actions that Zuba, voiced by Bernie Mac, gives to Alex, voice by Ben Stiller, when he comes back to the tribe.
The movie picks up with Alex, Marty, voiced by Chris Rock, Melman, voiced by David Schwimmer and Gloria, voiced by Jada Pinkett Smith, leaving Madagascar and trying to get back to New York. The plane crashes and they find out that they have landed in the wild in Africa. They all find their different herds and Alex is reunited with his parents.
In the movie Alex has to perform a ritual to get into the herd. He thought the performance was a dance off, but it was actually a fighting battle. Since he failed, he’s banished from the herd.
During the movie the main water hole becomes dry. Alex wants to prove to his dad that he could be a real lion so he leaves the reserve to find out why there was no water coming into the water hole.
In today’s society many animation movies have hidden jokes that children do not understand. The jokes in this movie were geared more toward adults.
In the early scenes of the movie Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria are getting on the plane to head back to New York. Mort tries to get on the plane with them and King Julien tells the crowd that Mort has scissors and lotion in his suitcase so security attacks him. Then when they get on the plane the stewardess is telling them about the various safety procedures. In case of an emergency landing they should put the air bags over their head so they will not show the other passengers they are scared. What child would see the hidden message in this joke?
“Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” runs one hour and 29 minutes and was rated PG. It gave a lot of different plots which connect well together at the end.
Growing up, I did not watch a lot of animated movies. Being older you get the plot of the movie but also the hidden information that being young you might not catch. I guess this gives the parents who are with the children something to enjoy also.
The sequel is a lot better than the first Madagascar. The directors used different computer techniques that made it more magical. Each time you watch the movie you can find a new feature. In one of the scenes an old lady was talking to the other New Yorkers, and she stood up with a torch and her shadow was the statue of liberty. To me that adds a sparkle in the movie.
This is a great movie that you can watch over and over, just like “The Lion King.” I can see this movie as being this century’s best animated film. There are bits of the movie that resembles the looks of “The Lion King’s” Scar with Madagascar’s Makunga, the evil lion.
I recommend this film to everyone, even if you do not have kids or younger siblings. It has a good story line and wonderful humor. The film will have you laughing the entire time.