Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) voices Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith directed by Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath, Conrad Vernon Movie Review

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)

Some Animal Magic

Alex, fearing that they will never see his beloved America again convinces the others that they should head to Monte Carlo to find the Penguins and then return home to the zoo. But things don't go as planned and they find themselves on the run from Chantel Dubois, an over zealous animal control officer who will stop at nothing to get them. Having only just managed to escape the friends end up in France and owning a travelling circus where their old tricks from the time in the zoo help revitalize it.

Up until now I have not been the biggest fan of the "Madagascar" movies and as I watched "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" I came to the conclusion that I find the characters simply to annoying to enjoy. It's just one of those things which for me tends to be the case with characters which are loud which to be honest is definitely the case in all of the "Madagascar" movies. But loud is exactly what works for the movies intended audience of young children.

But despite not being a fan I will admit that the series has got better the longer it has gone on with not only improved animations but also better jokes which work for adults as well as children. As such whilst Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is still a children's animation rather than a family one it does have moments which will amuse grown ups such as a banana machine gun with a slow motion scene of the banana skins cascading like shells from a machine gun. It also has much nicer background artwork this time which gives it a mix of the classic and the modern which helps to appeal to grown ups.

As for the actual storyline, well in truth it is little more than a series of comical escapades across Europe with Chantel Dubois on the animal's trail. Again it is fine for the intended audience and reasonable for grown ups but not exactly the most charming of stories.

What this all boils down to is that "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" is that rare case where three movies in and they are getting better rather than worse. It is still aimed at children rather than family but the humour for grown ups is a lot more frequent and funnier whilst the artwork is better as well.


LATEST REVIEWS