Movie Review: Madagascar 2- Escape to Africa (2008)

Director: Eric Darnell and Tom Mc Grath

Cast: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schuwimmer, Jade Smith playing the voice of lion, zebra, giraffe, and hippo.
 
Just when you thought that Madagascar was a roller coaster ride with Alex (the lion) and his bunch of friends entertaining everyone by dancing and doing a rock n roll, DreamWorks got you Madagascar 2- Escape to Africa. We give a brief idea for people who (unfortunately) haven’t seen Madagascar 1. The movie saw these four animals (lion, giraffe, hippo and a zebra) spoiled by their upbringing with no idea what real life looks like. The four of them escape from Central Zoo, New York, smartly assisted by four absconding penguins, and find themselves in Madagascar among a bunch of merry lemurs which leaves the story in Madagascar itself paving its way for Madagascar 2- Escape to Africa.   

The movie kick starts with Alex and his friends taken for a ride on the plane by (again the absconding penguins) and end up crash landing in the continent of Africa. Africa, the den of the wild where Alex and his friends actually discover what life is beyond the Central Park Zoo, New York.

Coincidently, Alex meets his parents in Africa and becomes popular as the ‘The King of New York’ there. Unfortunately, Alex’s increasing popularity and fame is not well digested by a fellow lion (Makunga), who has his eyes on capturing the alpha throne. He outsmarts Alex and henceforth becomes the new king of the jungle. 

Everything then goes gala-gala where Alex and his troop have a ball of time. Everyone has his share of peace and fun; Melmen enjoying his new job as a doctor, Gloria getting all possible attention from the male hippos, Marty with all his fellow zebras racing away here and there and Alex getting all the pampering he required from his parents.

The penguins too aren’t left much behind. They manage too fool (again, what’s new) few people who came to enjoy the wild nature. The penguin with the help of monkey try to fix in their plane so that they could go home.

The movie then takes a turn and a series of events and mishaps happens like Alex being banished after being fooled by Makunga, Melman (giraffe) left heart broken by Gloria (hippo) who fell for Moto Moto (a big size male hippo), who boasts about his name (Moto Moto) saying, “the name is so nice, that you feel like saying it twice”. Next in turn is Marty (zebra) who feels that Alex and his friendship are fading away, because Alex never gives Marty a chance to say about his side of problems. 

Now comes a situation where Alex could prove himself. The jungle has started drying up, the animals are almost on the verge of dying and at that moment they remember their kind former king, Zuba (Alex’s father). When Alex comes to know about the drought he decides to go off the reserve in search of water, which was the only way to prove himself. The lemur (King Julien XIII) as he is called (with a strange ascent) suggests that a sacrifice should be made for the Gods in the volcano, so that they will be happy and bestow water for everyone. 

Alex, later joined by his father find them selves trapped amidst few people, lead by an old (but strong) lady who felt like having a lion for supper. Alex then delivers a mind blowing dance performance, shaking his booty, saying that this is the only thing he is good in. The father and son manage to woo their audience and ultimately succeed in escaping as well as bringing water from there for their jungle and henceforth Alex once again proclaims his title as ‘The King of New York’.  

The movie ends in a ‘happy ending’ way, with Marty and Alex becoming best buddies again, while this time (for a change), Gloria realizes her love for Melmen and also saves him from becoming a sacrifice to the Gods in volcano. Zuba once again is proclaimed the pride’s alpha lion throne. The Adelie penguin finally gets married to his doll (irritating) and leaves Africa, in a half constructed plane.

The movie is picturized in a very beautiful way showing the wild side of Africa. All the characters, needless to say where mind blowing. The penguins got a better role this time (their leader is worth watching). The lemur or in a better way, King Julien X III was someone whom you will feel like watching a thousand time (do note his ascent). 

Director Eric Darnell and Tom Mc Grath have done a terrific job. The voice lenders, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schuwimmer, Jade Smith and others have simply been outstanding. 

The movie is better than the original as the fun mania has been doubled this time.

So enjoy this amazing stuff delivered by Alex and his team who have entertained us right from the Central Park, to Madagascar, to Africa

A must, must watch.

Rating: * * * * (4 out of 5)
 
-Pratik Maheshwari/ - SAMPURN