Going wild in MADAGASCAR (Movie Review)

Starring: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Andy Richter, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer
Director: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath
Studio: DreamWorks Pictures
Producer: Mirelle Soria, Teresa Cheng
Screenplay: Billy Frolick, Mark Burton

From DreamWorks Animation SKG comes the new computer-animated comedy "Madagascar", starring the voices of BEN STILLER ("Meet the Fockers", "Meet the Parents"), CHRIS ROCK ("Chris Rock: Never Scared"), DAVID SCHWIMMER (TV's "Friends") and JADA PINKETT SMITH ("Collateral").

Alex the Lion (Stiller) is the king of the urban jungle as the main attraction at New York's Central Park Zoo. He and his best friends Marty the Zebra (Rock), Melman the Giraffe (Schwimmer) and Gloria the Hippo (Pinkett Smith) have lived their entire lives in blissful captivity, complete with lavish meals and their own park views.

Not content to leave well enough alone, Marty allows his curiosity to get the better of him and, with the help of some prodigious penguins, makes his escape to explore the world he's been missing, intending to return before morning. In the middle of the night, Alex, Melman and Gloria discover their friend missing and decide the only course of action is to break out the zoo and get Marty back home before anyone notices they're gone.

Even in New York, a lion, giraffe and hippopotamus wandering the streets and riding the subway are bound to attract some attention. Alex, Melman and Gloria manage to track Marty down in Grand Central Station, but before they can catch the train home, they are darted, captured, crated and put on a ship to Africa by well-meaning humans who think they should be freed from the stress of New York life.

When those plotting penguins sabotage the ship, Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria find themselves washed ashore on the exotic island of Madagascar. Now, these native New Yorkers have to figure out how to survive in the wild and discover the true meaning of the phrase "It's a jungle out there".

"Madagascar" also features the voices of Sacha Baron Cohen (HBO's "Da Ali G Show"), Cedric the Entertainer ("Barbershop") and Andy Richter ("Elf").

The computer-animated comedy is directed by Eric Darnell ("Antz") and Tom McGrath ("The Ren & Stimpy Show"), making his feature film directorial debut. Mireille Soria ("Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron") produced "Madagascar", with Teresa Cheng serving as co-producer. The screenplay was written by Mark Burton & Billy Frolick and Eric Darnell & Tom McGrath. (Synopsis retrieved from "About the Film: Synopsis")

This movie is just great, man... you'll be laughing nearly the whole time!
I just love this movie.. very much. The comedy, the graphics, the casts & characters, the emotions... it was all just right for me!

Let's start off with its story.
The story was just right and proceeded quite well in my opinion.
Of course there were much illogical details to the movie, but then again, that what makes it a comedy.
The jokes and humors were just excellent and very well delivered, and had gotten the whole audience (when I went to the cinema) in a hysterical feat in many parts of the movie.
Besides all the laughters, there is a plot in this story, a good one too. I felt really touched by the emotion portrayed through Alex's caring, affectionate heart when he said, "I don't want to hurt you." when nearing the end of the movie.

The characters were just lovable... each of character were different in terms of personality, attitude and lifestyle... haha!
Alex the luxury-spoiled, city big cat, Marty the lively, playful, 'wild' black-striped quadruped, Gloria the physically sensual and mighty river-horse, Melman the edgy, health-conscious, human-knowledgeable long neck, etc.
however, despite the differences, they all share one quality.. they're all able to make you laugh.
My favorite character is Melman, not cause Ross from FRIENDS does his voice, but it's just the character himself... for me, Melman was just my fave.



The four caught outside the zoo.


Ben Stiller, the voice of Alex the Lion


Chris Rock, the voice of Marty the Zebra


Jada Pinkett Smith, the voice of Gloria the Hippopotamus


David Schwimmer, the voice of Melman the Giraffe

The graphics were great as well. Though I don't mean great as in the animals look like the actual animals in reality. In fact, if you take a look at the animal character's faces, you can see much resemblance they had with their voice actors/actresses, the most apparent would be that of Alex-Stiller and Marty-Rock.



King Julian (Sacha Baron Cohen), the one with the 'crown', his right-hand lemur Maurice (Cedric the Entertainer), and Mort (Andy Richter) the cutest amongst the lemurs of their tribe on Madagascar


Sacha Baron Cohen, the voice of King Julian


Cedric the Entertainer, the voice of Maurice


Andy Richter, the voice of the cute, puppy-dog-eyed Mort

I definitely would recommend ANYONE to watch this movie. You are going to have a heck of a good time laughing til even your stomach can hurt!
haha!


"I like to MOVE-IT-MOVE-IT!
I like to MOVE-IT-MOVE-IT!
I like to MOVE-IT-MOVE-IT!
You like to..."
~ King Julian