Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) – Film Review

Director: Eric Darnell
Voice Cast: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett-Smith
Certificate: U

by Matt Callard

The unfathomable rules of animation state that with each sequel there shall be fewer laughs, less fun and a flagrant re-hashing of the best moments from the ($533m grossing!) original.

Madagascar 2 deviates not an inch from the formula, paying scant heed towards our genuine desire for a decent family film this festive season and lazily ripping off The Lion King in the process.

There’s a never-ending supply of voice talent at hand – Sacha Baron Cohen teases out a few corner smiles with his autocratic lemur – but little in the way of character development from the original movie and all the new animals are half-drawn excuses for yet more famous voiceovers.

“Pointless endeavour”

Sure, it’s bright and detailed and not without moments of levity but, my, this churning out, this inevitability, this predictability. The movie is a pointless endeavour – except as a money-making machine hiding behind a smiling kiddie facade.

Now, who’s gonna stand for such lurid cynicism as this in these cash-careful times? Here’s the Christmas turkey then.
3/10