Kids’ movie review: “Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa”

November 28, 10:13 PMOrlando Parenting ExaminerRobyn Kurth

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Dreamworks Pictures 

Alex the lion and his friends from the original Madagascar movie are back in theaters this holiday season with the continuing adventures of Alex (voiced by Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett-Smith) and Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer) as Central Park Zoo animals who learn how to survive in their native habitat in Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa.

The sequel picks up where the first Madagascar movie left off, with Alex and the gang preparing to leave Madagascar and return to New York City, but a mechanical failure on the penguin-powered plane they are flying lands them in a savanna on the African continent, with an unexpected family reunion for Alex. All of the cast members from the original Madagascar film are here, such as Sacha Baron Cohen as King Julien the Lemur and Cedric the Entertainer as his aide Maurice. A few new characters have been added to the mix as well, including Alex’s parents (the late Bernie Mac voiced the role of Zuba, Alex’s father).

During the course of the film, Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman encounter new challenges as well as a few familiar characters from New York City. As far as sequels go, Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa lacks the novelty of the first movie, but it does keep the kids and adults in the audience entertained throughout the film. Although our family agreed that the original Madagascar was the better of the two films, my first grader laughed throughout much of Madagascar 2, and I didn’t look at my watch at all, which is always a good sign.