Fun animated movie for the whole family.

Rating: 8/10 (21 May 2010)

What would happen if Central Park Zoo animals who are best friends escape and are forced to go to Africa? A fun animated movie.
We start out introduced to four best friends in the Central Park Zoo. Alex the Lion (voiced by Ben Stiller) is happy with how his life is. He is visited by thousands of people daily. He gets to have steak for dinner every day. Marty (voiced by Chris Rock) is a zebra who just turned 10 and wants more out of life than putting on a show for people every day. He wonders where the grass is greener. Gloria (voiced by Jada Pinkett Smith) is a hippo who is not afraid to take charge. She is a good friend, but not one to mess with. Melman (voiced by David Schwimmer from Friends) is a giraffe who always finds something wrong with him. He is always taking medicines.
The penguins steal the show from the best friends as a group who is up to no good in trying to escape from the zoo and go to Antarctica. They are a funny and original group of characters.
Marty sets out to go to Connecticut. Before he gets a chance to get on the train, his friends stop him. They are all caught by the New York police and are put in crates to go to Africa. The penguins hijack the boat and the four friends end up in Madagascar. They learn to adapt to the new environment they are put in.
While this movie is fun for the whole family, it does a great job of sending a message about how important friends are and keeping them close.