Review: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

The animation is bright and inventive, the gags are of the giggle-out-loud-variety, the voices of Stiller as the Lion and Rock as the Hippo are impressive, writes Rashid Irani.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Voices: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock
Direction: Eric Darnell, Tom McGarth
Rating: ***

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Often this sequel to the cartoon adventure involving a lion, giraffe, zebra and hippo, verges on the ridiculous. If it’s any consolation, it’s more enjoyable than its precursor and is more than likely to win you smiles and affection if you see it with a pre-teen kid.

The animation is bright and inventive, the gags are of the giggle-out-loud-variety, the voices of Stiller as the Lion and Rock as the Hippo are impressive. It’s the storyline, which goes, here, there and nowhere that’s a let-down. Too much is happening to our Lion and gang flying out of Madagascar in a rebuilt World War II plane. They want to return to their home – New York’s Central Park zoo (whatever for?) – but the plane crashes in the wilds all over again.

The quartet is about to lose its mind. A romantic angle is even sketched between the giraffe and the hippo! What next? Anyway in sum, admittedly the result is visually sparkling and the pace is jaguar fast. Do see Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa but not without bags of popcorn.