Unfotunately not as funny as the first! (Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (DVD))

Member Name: KitKatLovely

Product:	Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (DVD)
Date:	07/01/09 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great for kids

Disadvantages: Not so good for adults

Madagascar 2 sees the return of Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman, fresh from the adventures of the first instalment, and ready to return to the relative normality of New York. Unfortunately for them their misplaced faith in a batch of aeronautically challenged penguins (aren't they all?) sees them crashland in their native Africa.

And this, by and large, is where the fun ends. There is a plot, which involves each of the main characters having their own problems to overcome - in short, love, friendship, rejection and an identity crisis. As with most kids' films they squeeze in some moral values to teach the little blighters right from wrong. I don't disagree with this per se but it seems to leave this story rather dry.

The gags are slow and purely for the younger audience. This is particularly disappointing as its predecessor catered for all ages.
A few saving graces: The penguins are back, comedy genius, (especially Skipper) and King Julian, voiced by Sacha Baron Cohen.

Madagascar: The Crate Escape (working title) is set to be released in 2012 and it would be nice to see the franchise return to its former glory.

So, to summarise, Madagascar 2 feels like a typical modern-day sequel: bigger, bolder, more expansive... and inferior to the original.

Summary: Okay, but not great.