Film Reviews Blog: 'Madagascar 3' Surprisingly Delightful

I had low expectations walking into "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," but I found myself remarkably surprised.

I had great doubts about the (assumingly) final chapter in the saga of the escaped New York Zoo animals, because it just seemed to be a story of a group that didn't know what they wanted.

First they escape the zoo to Madagascar because they feel trapped, then they get tired of that and head to Africa, and now they are nostalgic for their old home in the big apple.

However, as the cliché goes, don't judge a book by its cover; because, you will miss out on a wonderfully contagious and charming family film, which shares an amusing and entertaining story of the lengths friends will go to for each other.

Alex the lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer), and Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) are making their way through Europe as they run away with the circus to escape from the evil Animal Control Captain Chantel DuBois (Frances McDormand).

The gang, from Alex to King Julien (Sacha Baron Cohen), does a fine job of maintaining the charm that made them so fun to watch in the first film.

However, it's McDormand's Captain DuBois that steals the show. Her evil lust to capture the animals and have their heads hanging on her wall of trophies is very reminiscent of Cruella de Vil's obsession with the Dalmatians. And, her mishaps are reminiscent of another French officer, Inspector Jacques Clouseau, a.k.a. the Pink Panther.

The plot may be simple, but how much depth do you need in a children's movie?

"Madagascar 3" brings back all the charm and fuzzy cuteness while introducing some new faces that are equally satisfying, like stone-cold Russian tiger Vitaly (Bryan Cranston), or the of "only average intelligence" Italian sea lion Stefano (Martin Short), who will have you chuckling throughout.

This is a fantastic end to the series, and an equally marvelous film for the family that will leave both parents and kids in laughter, and maybe even leave a circus tune stuck in your head.

Check out "Mark @ The Movies" as Mark S. Allen sits down with Chris Rock to talk about the film.

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