Movie Review # 563: Madagascar (2005)

Alright, everyone, today, we are going to be diving into the 2000s animation era, particularly the mid-2000s, when hand-drawn animation became much more scarce, and computer animation became a much newer medium. Not only that, but we will be going into the world of DreamWorks animation, when DreamWorks, starting around maybe 2004’s Shrek 2, and on for many years, began releasing successful after successful animated films at least in the summer time. Yes, of course the company would release animated films in the fall, around October, or November (mostly the latter month). However, the difference between the summer, and fall seasons was that DreamWorks seemed to have more success with their animated films that were released during the late spring, or early summertime (i.e. with films like Madagascar, Over The Hedge, and Kung Fu Panda) while the animated ones that were released in mostly the month of November in those years ended up being hit, and miss (i.e. ones like Flushed Away, and Bee Movie). That being said, one could possibly argue that DreamWorks basically had their own version of the Disney Renaissance that Disney had going on in the late 1980s, and all through the 1990s, but had the summer DreamWorks Renaissance, with pretty every film released in the summertime starting from 2004, and spanning for quite a few years after that, being successes. So, let’s discuss one of these DreamWorks animated films that were released during the “Summer DreamWorks Renaissance Era,” the one, and only film that features our friends Alex The Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, and Gloria the Hippo, Madagascar.

Plot: When circumstances occur that cause former New York zoo animals Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), Marty The Zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer), and Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett-Smith) to be shipwrecked on the island of Madagascar, they must try to find a way to get back to the zoo of New York City, where they originally came from. Will they find a way to leave Madagascar, and return to New York City, or will they be stuck on the island of Madagascar for the rest of their days?

Okay, I will start things off by saying that this film is incredibly funny. I mean even if the story could drag a little bit at times, it makes up for it with incredibly hilarious moments, and jokes. As far as jokes, it is surprising how well most of the jokes land throughout this film. Not only that, but the jokes are also clever, and even symbolic at times. Don’t believe me on that? Well, then all the more reason to see this film, if you haven’t, and you’ll likely see what I mean. Anyway, Madagascar serves as proof to not judge a book by it’s cover, or a movie by it’s trailer, or poster. Why do I bring this up, you may be wondering? Well, on the surface, this DreamWorks film may looks like a film that’s aimed more for young kids than adults. However, unlike with 1994’s A Troll In Central Park (which was originally distributed by Warner, but became a 20th Century Fox film for some reason), which clearly was aimed for the really young audience, Madagascar has something for all ages, children, teenagers, and adults. It is surprising how much adults can even relate to basically any one of the four characters in one way, or the other. What’s even more is that this movie can honestly feel like a story like The Flight Of The Phoenix, or Cast Away, for instance. Okay, just please enlighten me for a moment. For those of you who are familiar with that film, you know how the crew that was on that flight ended up crash landing in a desert, and had to learn how to survive in rather unfamiliar territory because of that? Same with Cast Away, except for learning how to survive on an island, and near the ocean in that case? Well, Madagascar seems to have that similar type of story, but the difference being that at least the four main animal characters in this movie end up getting marooned on the island of Madagascar for reasons that I won’t go into do that you can see this film for yourself. Oh, and how could I not discuss the score by Hans Zimmer? Yes, you heard that correctly. The guy who composed for Disney’s The Lion King, and a few of the DreamWorks animated films that were released before this one, composes for Madagascar as well. Did his score land? Well, even if it’s not quite as enriching as it was in some of the other animated films before this one, it’s still very good, especially when it comes to the scenes that take place in the wilderness. Oh, and Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Chris Rock, and David Schwimmer real knock it our of the park with their respective characters, along with the rest of the cast that plays their respective characters, especially Chris Rock. Finally, who doesn’t like to dance to the song, “Move it, move it!”?

But are there any negatives in this film? Well, let’s see! One, even though Marty, and Alex are very fleshed out in this movie, Melman, and Gloria could have probably been fleshed out a little more than they were in the end. Thankfully, they seem to have more of that in the 2008 sequel. Sole of the animation can feel a little dated st times too. Not to mention that the movements with some of the characters can feel a little choppy at times, and feel like something out of an episode of Veggie Tales, or something line that. Finally, some of the side plot with the penguin characters can be a little distracting at times, and take away from the main focus of the film because of that. Don’t get me wrong, they have hilarious moments too. It’s just that they might take up a little chunk of the film.

And that’s my review for 2005’s Madagascar. Yeah, even if not quite one of DreamWorks strongest films, one could easily have seen this movie winning an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Then again, the Wallace & Gromit movie won, and I still have yet to see that before making such a judgment call. Anyway, Madagascar is fun, hilarious, and knows how to be an overall clever film. If you haven’t seen it yet, watch it Peacock, go check it out from the library, or something like that. So yeah, see Madagascar, and see what you think!

Final Grade: B+

P.S. I’m not sure if reviews for the second, and third films will be coming this year, or not. Well, if not this year, you guys will most likely see reviews for Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, and Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted sometime next year. Anyway, just thought I’d throw that out there!