PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR

GRADE: B -
Starring Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights, Conrad Vernon, John Lakovich, Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Stormare, Annet Mahendru
Reviewed by Paul Gibbs

I've always had a fondness for the Madagascar animated films, while of course recognizing that they weren't up with their Toy Story or the other truly classic animated films of our time. But they're likable and funny, and with more heart than they're given credit for (and a still maintain that first one actually had a surprisingly deep subtext, even if it exists nowhere outside of my own mind). The penguins have always been among the funniest and most popular characters, but they're rather one dimensional comic relief. Could they really carry their own movie? The answer is a qualified yes.

The story begins with an origin of the four penguins (Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private) as children in Antarctica (even this actually stretches it a bit with these characters, as detail is not best thing for them, It's not easy for me to accept, even in a cartoon, that they were essentially born thinking they were an elite commando unit). Flash forward to the penguins "escaping" the circus where we saw them at the end of Madagascar: Europe's Most Wanted. Soon the penguins are off on their own for another adventure, one which finds them going up against a dastardly octopus named Dave (delightfully voiced by John Malkovich), and joining voices with an actual elite commando unit called the North Wind, lead by a wolf (voiced by the increasingly omnipresent Benedict Cumberbatch). The character conflict/development is provided by Private's struggle to be a valued member of the team, rather than just being thought of as the cute and cuddly baby brother.


Directors Eric Darnell and Simon J. Smith are working with a script credited to 5 screenwriters who have concocted a plot that's pretty flimsy even by cartoon standards, which is really just a basic framework for non-stop gags, some of which are very funny (the early bits involving nature documentary film crews made me laugh out loud), and some of which fall flat. Even the running gags are inconsistent, as a an endless series of puns involving celebrity names is alternately amusing and tiresome. But the film moves fast enough to avoid wearing out its welcome, and the penguins are endearingly goofy enough to keep us engaged. In particular its surprising that Skipper is actually able to pull of some nice character moments.


DreamWorks Animation has taken a real step forward in sophistication in recent years with films like Rise of the Guardians and the excellent How To Train Your Dragon series. This isn't in the same league. But's going to please its target audience, and there's enough to keep the adults who take them to the theater fairly amused. It's not likely to become a beloved favorite or an Oscar nominee for Best Animate Film, but it's a fun time at the movies showcasing lovably goofy penguins. And did anyone really expect more from it? Besides, any film that manages to cast John Malkovich as an octopus and Peter Stormare as a polar bear gets a pass from me. Don't overthink it or expect too much and you'll have fun.