Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (3D)

Voiceover cast: Ben Stiller (Alex the Lion), Chris Rock (Marty the Zebra), David Schwimmer (Melman the Giraffe), Jada Pinkett Smith (Gloria the Hippo), Sacha Baran Cohen (King Julien), Frances McDormand (Captain Chantel DuBois), Jessica Chastain (Gia the Jaguar), Bryan Cranston (Vitaly the Russian Tiger) and Martin Short (Stefano the Sea Lion)

Director: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath, Conrad Vernon


The third edition of the Madagascar franchise is here. Another mad-cap adventure that does lose steam mid-way but when the end credits roll, the ride seems worthwhile.  Although similar to its predecessors, in more ways than one, this film isn’t funny or engaging enough for the adult audience. Though, it has enough eclectic elements to allure the younger generation. 

Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett-Smith) and Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer) are still stranded in Africa. They set out to Monte Carlo in order to grab the clever penguins and get to New York in their ‘monkey enabled’ aircraft. Things don’t turn out as planned, when the ‘not-so-wild’ animals wreak havoc on a casino and are pursued by a determined animal-control cop Captain DuBois (Frances McDormand), who will stop at nothing to hunt and kill her sole remaining animal trophy – the lions head. The only option for Alex and his friends to escape is to pretend to be circus performers and join a travelling circus led by the crabby Russian tiger Vitaly (Bryan Cranston) and the Gia the Jaguar (Jessica Chastain).

Madagascar 3:  Europe’s Most Wanted is a fast-paced adventure which troops around European destinations like Paris, Rome and Monte-Carlo. It’s a colourful, globe-trotting tale that lives up to the expectations of the franchise. However, there are a few speed breakers in the story which might just make you slump in your seats.

Firstly, the plot is wafer-thin. The central characters have little to do but discover their love of circus performing and the ‘animal instinct’ which they naturally posses. In this segment, the only thing that will really make you laugh is Marty’s jig with a colourful afro wig. Also, King Julien (Sacha Baran Cohen), one of the most important characters in the previous Madagascar films, is unfortunately reduced to a side character. A silly romantic sub-plot including him and a tricycle-riding bear adds no credit to the narrative. It almost seems as if it was forcibly inserted to add comic relief. Another predictable romantic angle between Alex and Gia makes you cringe in your seat. Among the additional characters, Captain DuBois steals the show. A cunning police official, a super woman who seems almost invincible, does manage to grip your attention. Her desperate chase sequences with Alex are the high-points of the film.

This film will appeal more to the kids than adults. The pre-climax portion, wherein the characters perform a circus act, is a visual delight. These portions score full marks in 3D. But again beneath the creamy layer, the absence of a strong story leaves you a tad bit disappointed.

“Ha! Ha! Ha! I like laughing! It's such a nice experience!” King Julien said that in the first edition of Madagascar. And we agreed. Unfortunately, that experience doesn’t stay for long in this film. Just like Julien’s character, most of the humour too remains sidelined.