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Madagascar

Four animal friends, Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer), and Gloria the Hippopotamus (Jada Pinkett-Smith) are content with their luxurious lives of fame at the Central Park Zoo. However, when Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock) wants to discover what life would be like outside the zoo, his misadventures result in him and his three amigos being shipped off and ultimately washed upon the shore of Madagascar, a far cry from the comfortable life of pampering they knew so well back in the Big Apple.

Ever since the wild success of Shrek, animated movies have had the pressure to live up to high expectations of not only entertaining kids, but adults too. And while Madagascar seems to fail in comparison to the hidden adult humor of Shrek, it promises to at least entertain both kids and parents alike.

The movie comically displays the four friend's ability to survive in the wild, poking fun at the stereotypical 'New-Yorker' attitude. The celebrity voices carried the movie, especially Schwimmer's character of a hypochondriac giraffe who needs his daily medicines and MRI's. Rock's ad-libbing is apparent in many scenes and helps give the film some edge. While the movie dragged on in parts, the quirky songs, dances and jokes helped keep the movie alive. And with his funny liners, hysterical accent and atypical dance moves, the highlight of the movie was most certainly Lemur, King Ali G. (Sacha Baron Cohen) ruler of the wildlife on the shore of Madagascar.

And like most animated films, Madagascar promises to teach a lesson. Though it may not be so clear cut, the film sets out to teach kids (and adults alike) to never give up on your friends.

Written by: Jill Salama

Reviewers Rating: 8.5
Reader's Rating: 9.75
Reader's Votes: 4

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