Dinesh Kamath's review of film 'Madgascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted' that was published in Newsband

Madagascar is a computer-animated film series produced by DreamWorks Animation. Voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith are featured in the films.

The overall plot through the series follows the adventures of four Central Park Zoo animals who have spent their lives in blissful captivity and are unexpectedly shipped back to Africa. Now they must struggle to survive while attempting to return to New York City with the help of a crafty cadre of penguins.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is a 2012 upcoming computer animated comedy film, and the third instalment in the Madagascar film series, set to release on June 8, 2012. Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, the directors of the first two films, are returning, along with Conrad Vernon to direct the film.

Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman the Giraffe are still fighting to get home to New York to their beloved Big Apple and of course, King Julien, Maurice and the Penguins are all along for the comedic adventure. This time the journey will take them to a traveling circus in Europe which they will reinvent Madagascar style. Frances McDormand will appear as main antagonist Captain Chantel DuBois. New characters being introduced include Stefano, a sea lion, Vitaly, a tiger, and Gia, a jaguar.

This is the third animated tale about New York City zoo animals on their overseas adventures. The film goes through a lot of motions - explosions of action and image so riotously paced that they become narcotic and numbing.

With Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, creators of the first two Madagascar flicks, joined by a third director in Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2), the filmmakers just can't stop stuffing things into Europe's Most Wanted.

The result: a cute story about zoo animals running off to join the circus becomes overwhelmed by a blur of color and animated acrobatics.

Madagascar 3 opens with Alex and zoo pals Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer) still stuck in Africa, dreaming of their return to New York.

Along with lemur king Julien (Sacha Baron Cohen) and his flunky (Cedric the Entertainer), they follow Skipper (voiced by co-director McGrath) and his wily penguin cohorts to the casinos of Monte Carlo, hoping to hitch a ride home.

The journey from Africa to Europe just happens, with no explanation, begging the question, how much harder would it be for the gang to find its way back to New York on its own? But that's the sort of thinking for which the filmmakers aim to leave no time.

The critters raise a ruckus at the casino, setting animal-control officer Chantel DuBois (Frances McDormand) on their tail. The animals take refuge aboard a circus train, where they unite with Vitaly the tiger (Bryan Cranston), Gia the jaguar (Jessica Chastain) and Stefano the sea lion (Martin Short).

The circus may prove the gang's ticket home, but only if they can turn the act into a dazzler. From this point on, Madagascar 3 mostly is a cartoon kaleidoscope, filled with blinding pyrotechnics and impossible gymnastics

The animation is grand, and the lovely images may be enough to send really young kids away happy.

By now, audiences would be familiar with Ben Stiller's lion, Chris Rock's exuberant zebra, David Schwimmer's shy giraffe and Jada Pinkett Smith's assertive hippo. So, introducing a circus and adding some new characters is a great way to liven up the proceedings. Stealing some of the spotlight is animal-control officer Captain Chantel DuBois, played with relish by Frances McDormand. Drawn with fierce eyes and thin cruel lips, DuBois turns out to be a formidable match - even for the smart and devious penguins.

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted marks the spot where a shrill and unfunny kid franchise made the leap into hilarious and engaging family entertainment.

Whatever the reason, Madagascar 3 finds the franchise finally finding its comedic groove, mixing character-based comedy, outrageous adventures and the occasional bit of parent-friendly wordplay.

Directors Eric Darnell (who co-wrote) and Tom McGrath use the circus setting as a springboard for eye-popping 3D visuals and some genuinely funny character interactions.

The returning players all seem to be more on their game: Stiller’s less of a whiner, Rock tones it down a notch or two (but still rattles off a circus theme song) and it turns out that Schwimmer’s voice sounds more natural coming out of the mouth of a neurotic giraffe than it does coming out of Schwimmer himself. Of the new additions, Cranston, Chastain and Martin Short (as a dopey but friendly performing seal) all score, but McDormand steals her every scene.

If the previous Madagascar entries left you cold, take the plunge with this threequel. You will believe a hippopotamus can tight-rope dance.

What these animals bring to the circus is fresh life. They bring new acts, new ideas and they bring some life to the circus. It inspires everyone.

Alex is sort of the guy who is the de facto leader, even though he’s not necessarily a natural leader -- everybody does look to him to drive the ship. He loves New York and he’s trying to get back home. He’s the keeper of that flame.

Rock adores the ability to let loose with his zebra Marty, something the format of animation encourages. Marty’s very, for lack of a better word, animated. There’s no such thing as over-acting in this animated movie.

When it comes to Pinkett-Smith’s Gloria, the hippo has it going on. She is really optimistic and really fun, and adventurous. The actress also finds her maternal ways enchanting. She is like the mother of the crew. When the boys get a little out of line, she’s always the one saying, ‘Come on, let’s get it together.’ She’s the glue of the group -- she’s an anchor.

Pinkett-Smith and her Olivia are the best part of the movie. Jada is so funny that she plays a hippo, because she’s so little in real life. She fills it up. She’s perfect in that part.

Thus the film is absolute family entertainment, top to bottom. Big kids, little kids, adults, grandparents... everybody can go see Madagascar and have a really good time. You've got some of the funniest comedians in this movie, and some of the best comedic minds coming together to work on the script. This is real high-end entertainment. The audiences will find kinship with the characters and their affinity for one another. They will see them as really relatable characters. Those characters are jokers who you will just enjoy going on a journey with. The movie is fun, and has a lot of heart. It deals with really simple, central issues. It’s basically about how one sees oneself and how one deals with the world. That’s relatable across the board. That coupled with some pure fun, that’s entertainment.

So do watch the film Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. You’ll love it!