Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Rating: 3/10 (30 April 2010)

The first film was a big hit, and quite often big hits are going to have a sequel, whereas the second Terminator and Godfather movies succeeded, this one isn't as good. Basically this film continues where the previous one left off, well, after seeing how little Alex the Lion Cub came to be placed in and become the star of New York Zoo, separated from his parents in Africa. Anyway, Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer) and Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) are still in Madagascar. But Skipper (Tom McGrath) and his gang of penguins have managed to get them a plane to fly back to New York, but it ends up crashing in the middle of Africa. Luckilly, the four friends, Lemur King Julien (Sacha Baron Cohen) and Maurice (Cedric the Entertainer) soon meet the animals of Africa, e.g. zebras (all voiced by Rock), including Alex's parents Zuba (Bernie Mac, not long before he died) and Mom (Sherri Shepherd). While Alex tries to prove himself to his parents and the rest of the pride as a worthy lion, because of the mean Makunga (Alec Baldwin) wanting to be the Alpha Lion, Marty is trying to stand out of the crowd of very similar zebras, Gloria is trying to find a partner, and Melman wants has feelings for Gloria he is scared to show. In the end, Alex does please his parents, Marty and he remain friends, Melman does express his feelings for Gloria, and the four friends do stay in their newfound home. Also starring Andy Richter as Mort, Will.i.am as Moto Moto and Stacy 'Fergie' Ferguson as Hippo Girlfriend. The animation is fine, but the characters this time aren't as loveable, and the story has pretty much nothing to keep you interested, I admit I dozed off a little somewhere, it's a fairly boring animated family comedy adventure. Adequate!