Mediocrity Galore!

Rating: 5/10 (8 February 2009)

That this movie should rate more than a 5 is a disgrace. Really, people, get a grip! The first half hour of this movie is just plain annoying. As in I actually had my finger on the stop button and would have written the whole thing off, but the movie does improve after the animals get to Africa.
I was sorely disappointed in the penguins. The stole the first movie, but here they are just caricatures of themselves. If they go on to stardom on Nickelodeon I hope someone breathes the life back in them. The original spark that made them special is just lost to inane stupid antics here.
And sorry, Nana, but you must get the axe. Every time she appeared on screen, my fingers crawled to the stop button. Doesn't any comedic writer understand that a joke is a joke for only so long, and then it becomes a catastrophe? And finally, the PREACHINESS! Oy, gevalt! 15-20 years from now, our kids are going to derive endless humor in the relentless series of morals we throw at them in movies supposedly made for kids to enjoy. From father and son issues, to the triumph of inter-species love (not to mention animate to inanimate love!) and unions, and individuality...marrona mia, what's left...do your homework and don't drink and drive? Jeesh! Give me Tom and Jerry, the Road Runner, or Rocky and Bullwinkle, but can we PLEASE go back to giving kids enjoyment instead of Sunday School? I gave this movie 5 stars only because some of the voice over work was first class. A tip of the tail to Sacha Baron Cohen for King Julien, he was the only character worthy of being called 'animated.' The rest were about as lifeless and full of surprises as the Skipper's love object.