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Movies / On DVD / Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

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Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)

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Reviews Counted:144

Fresh:92

Rotten:52

Average Rating:5.9/10

Consensus: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is an improvement on the original, with more fleshed-out characters, crisper animation and more consistent humor.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for some mild crude humor.

Runtime: 89 mins

Genre: Childrens

Theatrical Release:05-12-2008

Synopsis: In 2008's MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA, the endearing New York City zoo animals of the original hit movie return for another zany round of CGI adventures abroad. Leaving the island of the title by... In 2008's MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA, the endearing New York City zoo animals of the original hit movie return for another zany round of CGI adventures abroad. Leaving the island of the title by way of a ramshackle penguin-designed aircraft, the quartet of Alex the Lion (voiced by Ben Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith), and Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer), along with unlikely friends such as King Julien the Lemur (Sacha Baron Cohen), crash-land on the African savannah, setting in motion a whole new series of exploits, involving Alex's long-lost parents (Bernie Mac and Sherri Shepherd) and a stranded group of tenacious NYC human tourists. Reuniting directors Tom McGrath and Eric Darnell, as well as all the principal cast members of the first film, MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA takes full advantage of its sweeping setting, making room for beautifully expansive landscapes amidst the mammal mayhem. While the leads are in fine form, they are ably assisted by series newcomers, including the late Mac, Shepherd, and Alec Baldwin, who plays a scheming rival lion. Though various plotlines get increasingly ridiculous as the movie goes on (see the return of MADAGASCAR's aggressive Grand Central Station granny), the good-natured main characters and their silly support players (particularly lemurs and penguins) keep ESCAPE 2 AFRICA entertaining no matter how far the story strays off the wildlife reserve. [More]

Starring: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith

Starring: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter, Bernie Mac, Alec Baldwin, Will.I.Am

Director: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath

Director: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath
Screenwriter: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath, Etan Cohen
Producer: Mireille Soria, Mark Swift
Composer: Hans Zimmer
Studio: Dreamworks SKG

[See More Credits]

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    Choose Your Opponent
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    Alpha Lion
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    Flying First Class
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1 - 4 of 11

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Reviews for Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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A pleasing and pretty enough re-run, just that bit diminished.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/05/08
Ian Nathan
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This is one of those rare occasions where the sequel is better than the original – but only by a whisker.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
12/05/08
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Not quite on a par with the original but not bad as sequels go.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
12/05/08
Daniel Etherington
Daniel Etherington
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath’s exhilarating cartoon is a medley of comic humiliations as the sophisticated New Yorkers fail to cut the mustard in the real wild. The Heath Robinson invention will delight adults. The ironies will thrill kids. Great fun.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
12/05/08
James Christopher
James Christopher
Times [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This much-anticipated sequel is a frankly disappointing piece of opportunism, with a non-plot which shamelessly rips off The Lion King.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
12/05/08
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Its overall tone is cheerful, amiable and kid-friendly - and in these straitened times, one learns to be grateful for small mercies.

Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph | comment Comment
12/05/08
David Gritten
David Gritten
Daily Telegraph
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Give thanks for a sequel that defies the law of diminishing returns and provides a belly-full of laughs along the way.

Full Review Source: Sky Movies | comment Comment
12/05/08
Tim Evans
Tim Evans
Sky Movies

Everything that worked about the first Madagascar, plus a lot that didn’t. The zebra prattles and the giraffe whines, but when the lemur blows raspberries or sings ‘Private Dancer’, giggles all round.

Full Review Source: Total Film | comment Comment
12/05/08
Total Film

This could be one of the best family films of the year, I loved it. As always the animation is faultless and the script very amusing.

Full Review Source: Heart 106.2 | comment Comment
12/05/08
Heart 106.2

It's for children, rather than families. Adults can safely avoid.

Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
12/05/08
Christopher Tookey
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]

This crackingly entertaining sequel is great fun, blending beautiful animation with genuinely funny jokes. In truth it tries to pack in a sub-plot too far, but what the heck - this is great entertainment.

Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment 1 Comment
12/05/08
Mark Adams
Mark Adams
Daily Mirror [UK]

Repeating a winning formula is fine because writing/directing duo Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath have dreamed up a story that allows these loveable characters to develop in a fun way.

Full Review Source: Sun Online | comment Comment
12/05/08
Sun Online

The same as Madagascar 1 only louder and longer. Zoo animals escape into the wild. The only one you would want to spend time with is Sacha Baron Cohen’s lemur, and even then only if you could bring your own script.

Full Review Source: Financial Times | comment Comment
12/05/08
Financial Times

The visual invention and draughtsmanship are mightily impressive; a shame the drama's a bit of a bore.

Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
12/05/08
Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Independent

Stiller has an ear for mainstream projects that keep a few steps ahead of the crowd, like Meet the Parents and Tropic Thunder. Escape 2 Africa is tame by comparison but it never treats us like dumb animals.

Full Review Source: This is London | comment Comment
12/05/08
Charlotte O'Sullivan
Charlotte O'Sullivan
This is London

Average sequel with a handful of great gags but the story is weak, the main characters are annoying and the best characters (the penguins) are largely under-used.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
12/05/08
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

True, if you're not into cute kitten calendars you'll probably throw up, but who can resist soft fur?

Full Review Source: Teletext | comment Comment
12/04/08
Victor Olliver
Victor Olliver
Teletext

Stronger animation and a textured story make this even more entertaining than the original

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
11/21/08
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

The sequel to DreamWorks' computer-animated family hit Madagascar offers more drama and a lot more animals but fewer laughs and not quite as much fun as the colourful summer 2005 original.

Full Review Source: Screen International | comment Comment
11/03/08
John Hazelton
John Hazelton
Screen International

Two stripes and you're out!

Full Review Source: CNNRadio | comment Comment
07/17/09
Paul Chambers
Paul Chambers
CNNRadio
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

January 08, 2009: Broadcast Film Critics Name Critics' Choice Winners
The 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards were given on January 8, 2009, to honor the finest achievements in 2008 filmmaking. A list of nominees follows below, with winners in bold: More...

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