Penguins of Madagascar

The scene-stealing penguins from the “Madagascar” movies get their own spin-off in the 2014 rightfully named “Penguins of Madagascar,” and yes, I know this is my 800th review, which is hard to believe.

One would think a little of these eccentric animals would go a long way. Christy Lemire said in her review, “And indeed, this family-friendly animated comedy from co-directors Eric Darnell and Simon J. Smith is predicated on a single joke: the idea that these overconfident penguins—who fancy themselves as super spies—are completely bumbling and inept, yet they manage to wriggle out of every tricky situation not only to survive but thrive and save the day.”

Lemire continued, “But the pacing is so zany, the jokes are so rapid-fire and the sight gags are so inspired that it’s impossible not to get caught up in the infectious energy of it all.” The script (John Aboud, Michael Colton and Brandon Sawyer) finds enough paths into that one joke to the make the story look, if not consistently fresh, at least enjoyable. Thanks to the great voice cast, with John Malkovich and the everywhere Benedict Cumberbatch, takes this funny movie really seriously, and that’s one of the most humorous parts of all.

“Penguins of Madagascar” makes both an origin story and a spin-off, at it follows these funny animals on an adventure of their own. (The zoo animals from the original franchise are not to be seen here.) We begin in Antarctica, where a long line of penguins is walking across the harsh, snowy area to nowhere, because (as even they admit) they’re not allowed to think for themselves. Lemire said, “This is just what they do—and what the documentary crews expect them to do, in a knowing jab at the over-saturation of penguin-related properties over the past decade or so.”

Lemire continued, “Once the familiar, raspy tones of Werner Herzog’s narration kick in, describing the penguins’ dismal state in his typically wonderful, dramatic way, we know we’re in for a whole ‘nother level of humor aimed exclusively at the adults in the audience. Yes, all animated movies are crammed with self-referential jokes and cheeky pop-culture references, but “Penguins of Madagascar” does this consistently well. The fact that so much of the word play is so intentionally groan-worthy—including a running bit involving celebrity names—is part of the fun.”

The cool Skipper, voiced by the franchise veteran Tom McGrath, is the foursome’s so-called leader. Kowlaski, voiced by Chris Miller, is the smartest of the team and the group’s famous negativist. Rico, voiced by Conrad Vernon, the least developed of the four, mainly swallows things and makes grunting noises, but he’s useful immediately. Then there’s the nice and innocent private, voiced by Christopher Knights, the actual little brother that the other three have known from the moment he hatched.

During one of their secret missions, they find themselves kidnapped by Dr. Octavious Brine, voiced by Malkovich, a mad scientist who’s actually an evil, shape-shifting octopus incognito named Dave. Appears he’s been tracking the four penguins all around the world, offended by the fact that they keep beating him to the punch at different zoos and aquariums. His goal is to capture as many penguins as possible from around the world and inject them with a serum that will turn them into evil versions of themselves and make them look less cute and pleasing to the people.

(Lemire noted, “This was essentially the motivation of the dastardly El Macho in “Despicable Me 2,” by the way. He kidnapped nearly all of Gru’s minions, shot them up with high-tech jelly and turned them into an army of evil, purple minions to help him carry out his nefarious plan. I have a 5-year-old; I’ve seen this movie a lot.”)

Lemire said, “Skipper and his pals try to thwart Dave’s plan, but also on his tail (or his tentacles) is a group of legitimate animal super spies led by a wolf whose name is Classified, in a bit of who’s-on-first humor.” Cumberbatch voices the character with complete power and dignity, and to think that he has this and the voice of the evil dragon Smaug from the famous “Hobbit” trilogy in him – as well as the smart mathematician Alan Turing in the 2014 “The Imitation Game” – shows to his unlimited flexibility.

Simply from here, it’s spies vs. spies in a series of wild action scenes, and the incidents are a bit weak after a while. “Penguins of Madagascar” looks perfect for 90 minutes, and couldn’t have run any longer. Still, if you’re going around doing some shopping and looking for a small break, you’ll be happy you saw this spin-off with these penguins.

Look, I know this movie may not be good because it’s a spin-off focusing on the comedic side characters, like “Cars 2” and “Finding Dory” did, but I think this one is actually funny and I think this one should be seen. If you loved the trilogy, this one you will definitely like this one. Check it out and give it a chance. There are talks of a fourth “Madagascar” movie, but who knows when that will be, just like we don’t know when DreamWorks will come out with a fifth “Shrek.”

Thank you everyone for joining in on “Madagascar Month.” I hope everyone enjoyed it and hopefully there are those who have seen the movie if they haven’t. Stay tuned next month when I start back up “Black History Movie Month.”

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted

When you have something successful, you still keep it on. “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted,” released in 2012, knows how to impress their fans even it if doesn’t reach the heights of animation expertise that others typically get.

Wesley Lovell said in his review, “Seven years ago, DreamWorks launched one of its most successful film franchises. Starring the inhabitants of a New York City zoo who go out for a night on the town, but end up trapped on a boat to Madagascar, our quartet of disparate critters have faced numerous challenges including a flight from Madagascar into the heart of Africa four years ago.” Now, they continue trying to return to New York City, this time landing in the Riviera and joining a local circus trying to rum from a murderous animal control agent from France.

Lovell noted, “Madagascar 3 is a madcap adventure that adds a number of compelling new characters to the cast of the prior two films. Forming the base of the group, the familiar voices of Ben Stiller as the pampered lion Alex, Chris Rock as the flighty zebra Marty, David Schwimmer as the hypochondriac giraffe Melman and Jada Pinkett Smith as the feisty hippo Gloria each add the kind of familiarity that warmly greets you after a long absence.” These are the friends you always were fans of even if you rarely see them. In Africa, these four were joined by Sacha Baron Cohen as the moronic, narcissistic lemur King Julien, Cedric the Entertainer voices his smart, close lemur adviser Maurice, Andy Richter as a simple-minded lemur named Mort, and a gang of penguins voiced by Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, John DiMaggio (who isn’t in this film) and Christopher Knights.

While there are new characters introduced in the second film, none of them really show up in the third, but to replace them we have a crowd of interesting characters who have got to make an appearance in successful sequels. Jessica Chastain voices the beautiful jaguar Gia, Martin Short gives his crazy best to the funny seal Stefano, and Bryan Cranston growls his way through the film as the Siberian Tiger who gives one of the film’s main plotlines, mainly an accident years before that scarred him physically and emotionally.

With the maturity of Pixar defining much of the animation company in the last decade, many studios are trying to make more adult-friendly stories while still pleasing to children. The “Madagascar” franchise has wonderfully stayed a children’s film series. There is humor abundantly for adults, but its youthful delight and execution are exactly what the audiences’ need. I agree with Lovell when he said, “Unlike the insipid Ice Age series, Madagascar keeps its heart on its sleeve and continues to deliver engaging content without pandering to an audience base that has become increasingly weary of it.”

While it may not have the dignity of something like “Up,” “Wall-E” or even “Toy Story,” “Madagascar 3,” like the previous movies is an enjoyable and charming movie that audiences of any age can enjoy without feeling they have to find some deeper meaning. Lovell ended his review by saying, “This film preaches tolerance, acceptance and perseverance, but doesn’t gear those lessons towards parents but to the children who should be endlessly enthralled with its vibrant pallet and entertaining characters.”

In my opinion, this is the funniest of the trilogy. If you loved the first two, do not miss your chance to see this one. You will be laughing continuously from beginning to end and will love the way the story plays out. I give this a high recommendation.

If you think that is the end, it’s not. Sure, there is a fourth one planned out, if there was a spin-off that I will be looking at next week in the finale of “Madagascar Month.”

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

These poor animals! First, they’re dragged away from the cages of the Central Park Zoo to be lost on Madagascar. Then they find a crashed Cargo Cult airplane from World War II, tape the plane together and try to fly it back home. Why would they rather be in New York? Can’t get a cab in Madagascar? They all belong to separate classes, but they’re comfortable with variety. Roger Ebert said in his review, “These guys would have turned themselves in to Noah.”

It doesn’t look like that plane will go all the way. That doesn’t mean across the Atlantic from Africa. It means across Africa to the Atlantic. Do they (or their audience) realize Madagascar is east of Africa, in the Indian Ocean? Ebert admitted, “How I know, I had a friend from Madagascar once. Beat me at chess.” Some people are probably wondering about the title “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,” released in 2008, because they think the animals escaped 2 Africa in the first place. Ebert said, “Now shouldn't they be escaping 4rom Africa?” So they leave and (spoiler?) crash in Africa. Now they go up against the exact same problem like in the first film: Can wild animals survive in the wild?

They do a really funny job, which is exactly the idea. This is a brighter, more charming film than the original “Madagascar.” Ebert said, “I'll bet Dreamworks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg was hands-on.” When he was at Disney, he made friends with a lion during the filming of “The Lion King.” Ebert noted, “He even appeared with it on a leash at the junket. He looked more relaxed than the members of the press. Usually at a junket, they're the ones who do the eating.”

Every single original voice talents return, doing their original characters. What an ensemble cast: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter, the late Bernie Mac, Alec Baldwin and rapper Will.I.Am, who has one of those names like, as Ebert said, “his mother was frightened during pregnancy by a typographer.”

The look of “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” is open and bright. Better the wild savannah than the dark jungle. The action is exciting (sacrifices to a volcano, a fight for water), and there is a nice romance between Gloria the hippo and Melman the giraffe. Ebert admitted “I want to think Melman is not named after Larry "Bud" Melman, but I don't have the strength of character. Anyway, the prospect of a giraffe making love to a hippo is enough to set me writing limericks. Can it be done? I think it might be safer than a hippo making love to a giraffe.”

Alright everyone, if you liked the first one, this is better. Ebert ended his review by saying, “Your parents may like it too, although they may have to dash out for just a second to see "Soul Men."”

Like I had already stated, this movie is better. If you loved the first movie, then this one will be more exciting for you. Definitely check this one out because it is really funny, tells another story, and will keep you engaged throughout, especially the way it looks and the animation is beautiful. This review is posted on the sixth year anniversary of when I started blogging.

Look out next week when I continue “Madagascar Month.”

Madagascar

Happy New Year everyone! To start off this great year, I will be looking at the “Madagascar” franchise, starting with the first film, released in 2005.

Kevin Lally started his review by saying, “Madagascar, DreamWorks' latest computer-animated comedy, tests the validity of that celebrated lyric from Kander and Ebb's "New York, New York": "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere." The four Central Park Zoo animals of this tale are making it just fine in Manhattan: protected, pampered, well-fed and adored in their deluxe accommodations.” However, once they’re lost on the jungle island that the title says, making it to the next day completely changes everything.

Lally stated, “The notion of sheltered New York beasts removed from their artificial environment is irresistible, and if Madagascar doesn't quite deliver on its initial promise, it's still a likeable and loose-limbed addition to the ever-growing CGI family.” The voice actors of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer from the show “Friends” and Jada Pinkett Smith give their individual voices to the animals, but it’s a herd of disobedient penguins and an egomaniacal lemur king who are the highlights.

The movie starts on the tenth birthday of Marty, a restless zebra, voiced by Chris Rock, who has a mid-life crisis as he thinks the same usual schedule of his cage at the zoo. Marty’s best friend is Alex, an impressing lion, voiced by Ben Stiller, who loves being as the zoo’s main attraction. Lally said, “Completing the menagerie are Melman (Schwimmer), a hypochondriac giraffe, and Gloria (Pinkett Smith), a no-nonsense hippo.” At night, Marty successfully escapes and runs to Grand Central Station, where he wants to get on a train for the “wilds” of Connecticut. Alex, Gloria and Melman escape and find Marty at the station, but seeing a lion and his friends start a scare, and the four get drugged and sent by boat to the island. When those abovementioned tricky penguins take over the ship and sail the boat toward Antarctica, the crates that have the four animals fall overboard and eventually wash up on the shores of that beautiful island off the east coast of Africa.

Lally said, “Maybe this is a biased New Yorker talking, but the stronger sections of Madagascar are those that take place back in civilization (a debatable term when discussing the Big Apple).” The Central Park look, which resembles the actual place, is great and it’s a funny delight to watch a giraffe try to board a subway train. (The police horse who gives directions to Marty in a thick Brooklyn accent, voiced by David Cowgill, is also hilarious.) Lally said, “The shipboard sequence is another high point, as those penguins efficiently disarm the human crew, under the orders of a tough-talking leader voiced by Tom McGrath, who co-directed with Eric Darnell.”

Once the movie gets to the title destination, the screenplay has trouble keeping energy. Marty and Gloria adjust so quickly to their new environment. Lally mentioned, “It’s Alex who has the lion's share (sorry) of grief, suddenly deprived of his star perks and daily supply of grade-A steaks. For energy, the movie turns to the local population, a tribe of zany lemurs who love to boogie. Sacha Baron Cohen of HBO's "Da Ali G Show" is inspired as their ruler, a self-enamored goofball who hopes these recently arrived "New York Giants" can scare off their chief nemesis, the vicious, wildcat-like fossas.”

The movie’s one “deep” plot point is Alex’s difficulty with his own animal’s natures, once he doesn’t have meat and he becomes aware of all the possible animals all around him, including his best friend Marty. Lally noted, “Movie buffs will be reminded of the cabin scene with the starving Chaplin in The Gold Rush, and of how good the occasional Chaplin comedy would be for their children's movie diets.”

Lally continued, “Like the Shrek films, Madagascar relies a little too heavily on easy pop-culture gags-a little "Twilight Zone" here, a little "Planet of the Apes" there, even a sendup of DreamWorks' own American Beauty that will baffle the kiddies.” However, Darnell and McGrath also get something new for computer animation: a nice flexible look to character movement that’s similar of the wild artistic of Tex Avery and the Warner Brothers team.

“Madagascar” doesn’t really become a computer-animated classic, but its energetic performances, great designs and once in a while reflects of humor make a admirable start to the summer family-movie season.

If you have little kids, they will definitely enjoy this film a lot. I know I did when I saw this movie, and I think you will too. It’s very funny, beloved and has some great scenery with the animation making it look similar to the destinations in the film.

No surprise, the success of this film spawned two sequels and a spin-off, which we will look at for the rest of the month. Tune in next week when we continue “Madagascar Month.”