——–
Released 5th December 2008
————
———-
Our four favourite animal castaways, marooned in Africa, are escaping… to Africa? Quick Geography lesson, here: Madagascar IS part of Africa, kids — and the film-makers alike. Ok, nonsensical title aside, the lively sequel that includes pumping, toe-tapping dance tracks might actually be that rare and refreshing thing — a follow-up that was more enjoyable than the original.
———-
In fact, unlike other animated comedies over the past two years, this one appeared to keep kids in their seats and highly entertained, right to the very end, sing-a-long credits. For adults, the supporting cast of the military-style penguins and hysterical and bigoted King Julien the lemur provided the more mature gags, including when a penguin remarks: “who says a penguin can’t fly”? Ignore the cynics out there as Part Deux is highly amusing and a better production, technically. DreamWorks have taken a leaf out of Pixar’s book and created fur that actually fluffs in the African wind, and the attention to detail as the lion characters grow older is quite praiseworthy. Indeed, the film-makers have not forgotten ‘the chorus line’ of background characters in the busier scenes, with some having their own personalities and nuances to spot and enjoy.
———
Although, plot-wise, Escape 2 Africa adds nothing original to the genre, such films are the staple diet of kids’ animation, and provide a comfort and familiarity that all the family can enjoy. The sequel adds drama this time around, with that age-old tale of self-discovery for Alex the lion, but all the silliness and soppiness is present in spades. Yes, the penguins steal the show once again for the adults, alongside a new group of union monkeys demanding maternity leave for an all-male workforce that get the big laughs. Some might quibble about the sub-plots for the other main characters, Marty the zebra, Gloria the hippo and Melman the neurotic giraffe that seem to be under-developed, but there is no denying that the flourishing Gloria-Melman relationship is kept happily bubbling along to the end to a concluding inter-species union.
———-
Don’t pre-judge: Just get jiggy with the animals down by the watering hole, and enjoy the colourful feast of goofiness before you. With so much more going on, you may need a second sitting of this hilarious second film to catch all the fun in each scene.
——
By Lisa Keddie
———
Synopsis
———
In the highly-anticipated sequel, Alex, Marty, Melman, Gloria, King Julien, Maurice and the penguins and the chimps find themselves marooned on the distant shores of Madagascar. In the face of this obstacle, the New Yorkers have hatched a plan so crazy it just might work. With military precision, the penguins have repaired an old crashed plane-sort of. Once aloft, this unlikely crew stays airborne just long enough to make it to the wildest place of all-the vast plains of Africa, where the members of our zoo-raised crew encounter species of their own kind for the very first time. Africa seems like a great place… but is it better than their Central Park home?
——–
Film Facts
—–
Official UK site: http://www.madagascarinternational.com/intl/uk/
UK release date: 5th December 2008
Directors: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath
Writer: Etan Cohen
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)), Will i Am (’Moto Moto’ (voice))
UK Distributor: Paramount Pictures UK
Certificate: PG
Run-time: 89 mins
-
Video on Real.com
-
Trailer:
-
—–
FIVE CLIPS:
——-
———
UK Premiere:
——
——–
Ben Stiller (’Alex’) and Chris Rock (’Marty’) Interview:
———-
——–
David Schwimmer (’Melman’) Interview:
——-
———
Jada Pinkett Smith (’Gloria’) Interview:
——
———-
‘I Like To Move It!’ Music Video (by Will.i.am):
———
————
‘Big and Chunky’ Music Video (by Will.i.am):
———–
———–
