Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
Directed by: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath, Conrad Vernon
Cast: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Martin Short, Sacha Baron Cohen
Running Time: 1 hr 35 mins
Rating: PG
Release Date: June 8, 2012
PLOT: The four animals (Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman) are still trying to get back to their Central Park Zoo. Now it seems their only hope is to go through Europe with a traveling circus.
WHO'S IT FOR? Anyone who likes silly, fun, nonsense. There are very little life lessons here, and nothing that is too adult.
OVERALL
Is vomit ever a good thing? Allow me to pontificate further. There is a moment right after you throw up, when you feel perfect. Somehow all of those symptoms just wash away (hopefully in the toilet) for a few minutes. Your fever feels like it is gone, and oddly enough you feel like you could sit down to a steak dinner. Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is cinematic vomit, and that's a compliment. A whole bunch of illogical comedy and colors are thrown on to the screen, and while you are watching, it's surprisingly amusing. Sure, after the film ends it quickly evaporates, but during this hour and a half, you forget what a waste of time the first two Madagascar films are, and just feel good.
The plot of Madagascar is just so stupid it becomes smart. Alex (Stiller) and the others want to get back to the zoo. The penguins and monkeys are super rich and intelligent. Not only can they build and fly airplanes, but they're also capable of dressing up like a human. Instead of buying a new cargo plane, and flying to New York, the best plan of action for these animals is joining a circus. You see, the circus has an upcoming performance in London with the hopes of impressing an American talent scout (who may or may not be there) and having them book the circus in New York.
The voice talents improve from the already all-star cast. Martin Short as Stefano the sea lion is adorable and dim. Bryan Cranston as Vitaly the tiger has one oddly hilarious good joke, which is that he can fly through really tiny hoops, and it works. Jessica Chastain is somehow maintaining her pace of being in 35 films a year. I'm not complaining. Bambauch's writing style doesn't really feel that evident, except when Alex (Stiller) is speaking, but it doesn't seem to matter.
The characters can crash land, and blow up with no repercussions. It's like the evolution of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd more than anything else. And dear lord I hope no one decides to trip on acid before sitting down to this film, because the big circus performance will make you feel that way all on its own. The 3D is nothing to complain about either.
It's Looney Tunes. It's vomit. It's the best Afro Circus I've ever seen, which only sounds annoying, until you hear Chris Rock singing the accompanying song. It's the best Madagascar.
FINAL SCORE: 7/10