Yes, I know, I know - Madagascar is a kids movie. But who cares. It was on T.V. so I watched it. No, I won’t be analyzing the ethics of the film, and way the panning shots work, blah blah blah. I’ll just give the movie a fairly short review. I have to admit, when the movie first came out I really didn’t have much interest in seeing it. I mean - it looked like a fun and funny movie, but a little bit out of my genre, and I didn’t like the cartoonish 3D animation as opposed to realistic 3D animation. But it was on T.V. the other day, so I decided to watch it.
Madagascar is about a group of animals living the life in the Central Park Zoo, one that I have visited many, many times. They enjoy entertaining the people, getting fed, and getting back massages. Oh - and they can talk. That’s kind of what the whole movie is based on. But the zebra wants to go out to “The Wiiild” and enjoy the fresh air, he feels like his life is contained in a zoo. As he says in his own words: My life is half over and I don’t even know if I’m black with white stripes or white with black stripes! So eventually they get out… into the wiiiild. But unlike the trailers suggested, it happens in the first half hour. Most of the movie takes place WHILE at Madagascar A.K.A. The Wiiiiild. They have to adapt to the new territory and life, and not being fed every minute by park keepers, and of course the lion… starts seeing steak in places that he’s never seen it before - in his friends. Dun dun dun.
So the movie is really about 4 loveable characters (well… 3 - all the giraffe doess is look tall) who have to adapt to a new environment. It’s no Pixar film, and no Shrek either. But the characters are loveable, and very easy to relate to and they do have pretty complex relationships with each other that play out nicely, but always with comedy first.
The first half hour is very…. New Yorker-ish. They navigate the subways arguing in very New Yorker-ish terms. “No, I’m positive the C takes us to Canal street, so then we can get the N to 31st.” “Yeah, but the N is out of order so…” stuff like that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Also, the central park zoo looks very… central park zoo-ish which is nice, it’s a very nice movie for any new yorker.
At first I was unsure about the cartoon-ish look of the characters, but I really don’t mind it much any more - it’s not really needed for any reason, but hey - if that’s what they want to do it’s there movie, not mine.
So Madagascar is a sweet children’s computer animated film that kids will love and the parents will probably also laugh at a few jokes here and there. But as I said, it’s no Pixar or Shrek. But it’s almost up to bat with Monster’s Inc. and a little bit better than Finding Nemo. So I do recommend this movie, if you enjoy children’s movies.
7.5/10
Oh, also there is a Wihelm scream at one point of the movie - during the Grand Central Station scene. It’s a nice thing to put in.
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