12/14/2023 0 Comments Madagaskar cirkus songI thought Dreamworks did a great job of adding in humorous aspects for both kids and parents. Both the hubby and I enjoyed it as much as Bug did. He actually tried to touch a few things, which was super cute. This time, he wore them 2/3 of the time and giggled hysterically when characters seemed to pop out of the screen. I was a little worried about the 3D glasses, as when we saw Cars 2 last summer, he refused to wear them. It's this film's wide-spread identifier at this point and it'll probably also be the single, traceable reason why this silly movie winds up beating Prometheus this weekend.Last Saturday, the hubs and I took Bug to see Madagascar: Europe’s Most Wanted at an advanced screening in Durham. I think it's actually the first viral playground meme to firmly take hold since the bunny voiced by Russell Brand pooped out jellybeans in Hop. The "Afro Circus" song that somehow managed to break out, simply from the trailers alone, and become the newest thing that kids can't get enough of. And while touting the third installment in any franchise as the best one seems like an attention-getting move, I think I'd have to say this Part 3 is the best one of the series. But in a wretched sea of Smurfs, Marmadukes and Chipmunks, this one won't make you hate yourself afterward. I'm just presuming that there are plenty of other movies out there that might warrant your attention over this one. Don't take this mostly-positive review as an actual recommendation to go out and buy a ticket to see it if you don't have to take children to see it. And yes, Short's seal is so stereotypically over-the-top it's hilarious. The action and visuals have been souped-up like crazy for this go round, which kicks things off with a giant chase through Monte Carlo as Alex, Marty and the rest flee from the obsessed, T-1000-like Captain DuBois (Frances McDormand), eventually seeking refuge inside a traveling carnival that features the likes of Bryan Cranston's gruff Russian tiger, Jessica Chastain's love-interest-for-Alex jaguar and Martin Short's "Heeyya, whatsa matta you-a?" Italian seal. The laws of physics simply don't apply (sometimes for comedy's sake, sometimes for the hell of it) and often times the chase sequences, or circus scenes, come off as a bunch of loud noises and flashing colors. And while the rule of sequels demands that the action and adventure get exponentially heightened by whatever number follows the title, the fact that this is the first Madagascar film to be pimped out in 3D means that, frankly, it's going to exhaust you a bit. In fact, one of the things that Madagascar 3 does, to its credit, is drop the whole notion that all four of the leads need to have their own separate story/journey going on and just treats them like a perpetual globe-trotting, screaming ball of neurosis. The espionage-obsessed Penguins (who already have their own Nick TV series and a spinoff movie in the works) and the lemurs are funny enough to distract you from the fact that the lion, the zebra, the giraffe and the hippo have grown a bit tired. In fact, one of the reasons that these films have been so successful is that they've been able to provide us with an ample amount of scene-stealing supporting characters that regularly outshine the four main animals. And no, it's not just a lot of Shrek-esque pop culture references save for King Julian's (Sacha Baron Cohen) obsession with dance-pop of course. No, it's not top-shelf Pixar booze, but it is funny with actual clever lines of dialogue meant for viewers over eight. But Madagascar 3 really is one of those animated movies that adults will be able to enjoy. Yes, while the first Madagascar was adequately charming and the second was, well, less-so, it seemed as though this film series was going to go the predictable route of diminishing returns.
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