Third one is a topper

Rating: 8/10 (15 June 2012)

Far too many sequels fall short of the original. This is one series where "III" outdoes the first two. This one has heart, has a good story, has brilliant animation (about 95% of the final credits to to Indian animators).
It has a suitably villainous villain ("Capitane Dubois"), who has one of the best scenes in the movie: she sings the Edith Piaf blockbuster "Non, je ne regrette rien". (We saw her the other day in "Moonlight Kingdom").
The interplay between the Bear and Julien is marvelous. The animation is superb.
There's a bit of artistic license in getting the stars from Africa to Monaco, but we can overlook that.
There are many outside references (and in-jokes, most of which I probably missed). One is when the circus is rehearsing, and one of them talks about "this Canadian group" - that's the Cirque du Soleil.
I wasn't expecting much (remembering the first two, and considering what usually happens to sequels), but this is one of the year's best.