MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE’S MOST WANTED

US, 2012, 93 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter, Tom Mc Grath, Frances Mc Dormand, Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston, Martin Short.
Directed by Eric Darnell, Tom Mc Grath, Conrad Vernon

It’s seven years already since Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria left their New York Zoo home and were transported to Africa. In the sequel, they were still having African adventures. This time, they decide to leave Africa and make for home, setting out first for Monte Carlo where the villainous and scheming penguins have flown their plane with no intention of coming back to rescue the stranded group. The familiar voices are back: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith along with Sacha Baron Cohen as the mischievous King Julien.

The writers must have more than a soft spot for Europe. We spend a lot of time in Monte Carlo, not only at the Casino, which they leave the worse for wear, but the whole city as they flee, penguins and monkeys along with them, from the relentless and ruthless pursuer of animals, Mademoiselle Dubois voiced by Frances Mc Dormand with determined relish. After the mayhem in Monaco, they arrive in Rome, having bought a run-down circus so that they could escape in their train. Disaster – though the film spends some pleasing time in Rome for those who have visited the city. The marquee is set up in the Colisseum (which the pragmatic penguins decide ought to be torn down for something new and efficient). Julien visits the Vatican and kisses the Pope’s hand – and swallows the papal ring which he tries to pawn.

What are stranded animals to do? They decide that the show must go on, so they spend time in the Alps inventing new acts, getting a Russian tiger who has lost his mojo, Vitaly (Bryan Cranston), to rediscover his courage, helping out the maestro sea-lion, Stefano (Martin Short), Alex falling for Gia (Jessica Chastain). This is mainly where there are some funny parts, especially Marty being shot out of a canon and fulfilling his dream of flying. There is quite some amusing use of music and songs from Pomp and Circumstance, Non je ne regretted rien (from Mlle Dubois) and Born Free.

It’s on to London where they want to impress an impresario who could take them back to New York and home at the Zoo. It won’t spoil things to say they do get back to NYC, but they realise they have discovered life in the world and their cages are too confining for them. Scarcely have they had time to realise this than there is Mlle Dubois in a final face to face confrontation.

It’s all rather bright and breezy, which is how it should be.
1. The popularity of the Madagascar films? The zoo story? The African stories? Animals stranded in Africa? Wanting to go home?

2. The animation style, bright, colourful, characters and action, backgrounds, editing and pace? The use of Monte Carlo and Monaco, Rome, the Alps, London? The score and the songs?

3. The audience familiarity with the characters, memories of Alex, Marty, Melman, Gloria, Julien and the penguins?

4. The opening, Alex and his nightmare, growing old, stranded in Africa? The desire to go home?

5. The penguins, mischievous as ever, the plane, the jewels, the monkeys and the flying of the plane, leaving, lying, going to Monte Carlo?

6. The animals and their decision to go home, Monte Carlo as the goal, swimming, arriving in the Mediterranean? Monte Carlo and its backgrounds? The casino, gambling (the penguins and the monkeys)? The mayhem?

7. Mademoiselle DuBois?, her intensity, hunting, her trophies, her voice, singing the Edith Piaf song, going into action, tracking the animals? Haughty and relentless?

8. The pursuit, going through Monaco, over the roofs, into the water? Going to the train?

9. The train, the circus, encountering Stefano, Vitaly (the flashbacks to his successful career going through the burning hoops)? Gia and her falling for Alex? Hiding in the train, the discussions? Circus people? Their being persuaded to buy the circus – and the owners hightailing it away? Going to Rome?

10. The scenes in Rome, the Colosseum, the marquee, the penguins’ comments, the streets, the Vatican, the pope’s ring, the performance, the disaster, their being ousted, the people pursuing for the return of their money?

11. Going to the Alps, the discussions, determination, rehearsing, creating new acts, the trapeze, Marty and his flying, Stefano and the cannon? The bear and Julien falling in love with her – and the comic sequences of romance?

12. London, the atmosphere, the performance? Vitaly and his insecurity, the hairspray, his being persuaded to perform, his success? The entrepreneur?

13. Going to New York, their going back to the zoo, their disappointment, the crowds, the media?

14. Mademoiselle DuBois?, her pursuit from Monaco, behaviour in Rome, the Italian police? To New York? Relentless? The darts?

15. The build-up to the confrontation with Mademoiselle DuBois?, her failure?

16. Alex and his leadership, audiences liking him? Marty and the jokes and humour? Melman and his concentration on danger? The awkwardness of the giraffe and the various escapes and hiding? Gloria and her love? Julien and his behaviour? Happy in New York, but having seen the wider world? Audience hopes for a sequel?