MOVIE REVIEW: Madagascar 3 Europe's Most Wanted

Directors: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath, Robert Vernon
Writers: Eric Darnell, Noah Baumbach

Cast:

Ben Stiller ... Alex (voice)
Chris Rock ... Marty (voice)
David Schwimmer ... Melman (voice)
Jada Pinkett Smith ... Gloria (voice)
Sacha Baron Cohen ... Julien (voice)
Cedric the Entertainer ... Maurice (voice)
Andy Richter ... Mort (voice)
Tom McGrath ... Skipper / First Policeman (voice)
Frances McDormand ... Captain Chantel DuBois (voice)
Jessica Chastain ... Gia (voice)
Bryan Cranston ... Vitaly (voice)
Martin Short ... Stefano (voice)
Chris Miller ... Kowalski (voice)
Christopher Knights ... Private (voice)
Conrad Vernon ... Mason / Second Policeman (voice)
Vinnie Jones ... Freddie the Dog (voice)
Steve Jones ... Jonesy the Dog (voice)
Nick Fletcher ... Frankie the Dog (voice)
Paz Vega ... Horses (voice)
Frank Welker ... Sonya (voice)

I'm neither a morning person nor much of a television fan; however, as a kid, I'd willingly get up early to see the Saturday morning cartoons. I loved Bugs, The Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, and Bullwinkle, just to name a few.

Yes, I still love cartoons and some Saturday mornings I wish there were better ones available to watch. So, no surprise that I got hooked on Madagascar, particularly the penguins.

The first movie had the crew escaping from their New York Zoo to Africa. In the second film, they'd finally gotten home. This third film has them realizing they had it better in the good old USA than they'd thought, but the last they saw of the Penguins, they were headed for Monte Carlo on their makeshift plane for a gambling spree.

So, they've got to go to Monte Carlo. The penguins were just about ready to come back for them when they arrive causing a scene in the casino.

Unfortunately, their antics attract the attention of Captain Chantal DuBois of the police. This lady's got a trophy of just about every animal on her wall except a lion. And Alex's head is looking good to her.

They manage to escape Monte Carlo by joining a circus train. But can they convince the circus animals to let them stay--and can they make the circus pay well enough for a promoter to bring the show back to America?

Meanwhile, DuBois is still after them...

Madagascar 3 is still a fun romp for the kiddies. It's got all the color and snark of the former films. Plus, we've added some new animal characters to the scene and a little romance for Alex.

This is not my favorite of the three films. There's just not enough penguins for me; however, I still had a good time at the Friday matinee and I'll add the DVD to my collection so I'll have something to watch if I get the yen to wake up early on Saturday morning and there's nothing on.

Rebecca McFarland Kyle, June 2012