four and a half stars

Reviewed by Kelly Joseph

"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" is wonderful for kids, families, and adults.

This sequel is as good as the original with an entertaining storyline, new characters, and it leaves you wanting more.

With an all-star cast of voices including Ben Stiller as Alex, Chris Rock as Marty, Jada Pinkett-Smith as Gloria and David Schwimmer as Melman, you will not be disappointed!

At the end of “Madagascar”, our four New Yorkers are stuck in Madagascar. The Penguins manage to get King Julian’s crashed plane to fly again and Alex, Marty, Gloria, Melman, King Julian (Sacha Baron Cohen), Maurice (Cedric the Entertainer), and the Monkeys take off for New York.

The plane crashes shortly after takeoff and they discover that they are in Africa where Alex was born. They meet his mom (Sherri Shepherd) and dad (Bernie Mac) and everyone gets to know their own species.

Marty finds out he is not as unique as he thought. And when Alex can’t tell which Zebra he is, he hides among the herd.

Melman finds out that all the giraffes are hypochondriacs like he is. The difference is that he had doctors to help him whereas in the wild they just find a dying hole and give up. Melman becomes their witch doctor until they tell him about their last witch doctor who died of the witch-doctors disease.

Gloria finds that she is quite a catch among hippos. Moto-Moto, the hippo all the girls are after, takes a shine to her and she goes on her first date.

Alex is banished from the pride because he cannot fight like lions are supposed to. His Father is removed from his position as the Alpha because he could not banish Alex.

When the watering hole dries up, Alex goes in search of more water to earn back his fathers respect. King Julian thinks that if someone jumps in the volcano that the water-god will send more water.

Melman, who has always loved Gloria, decides to sacrifice himself since he has lost her to Moto-Moto and will die soon anyways. Gloria realizing that Melman loves her for more than her size, races to stop him from jumping.

Alex and his father, with the help of Marty and the penguins break the dam holding the river back and the watering hole refills. Alex is welcomed back to the pride and his father is re-appointed as the Alpha.

The animation is fantastic and the characters are great! The adults in the theatre were laughing every bit as much as the kids, which makes this a great family movie. Rated PG for some mild crude humor.

In the words of King Julian, “you have to move it move it” straight to the theatres to see this movie!