Mini movie review: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Our family went to see the latest Madagascar installment last week. I'm giving it a mini review because there's not a whole lot to say about it. That's not to say it was bad. Just very disposable fun that doesn't need to be over-analysed. For those who want it the movie carries the tried (maybe even a little tired) and tested messages of friendship surviving the odds and rising above differences and a fallen hero proving himself. But for the most part it's full of music, crisp and clever animation and gags. Maybe a little dialogue heavy in parts for the under-five set and the music could be a bit too doof-doof for some (I found it encouraged rigorous bouncing of a three-year-old on my knee) but the animation is great and our kids enjoyed themselves (and my husband laughed out loud quite a bit. too. much.). For me the gags were pitched a little too much toward parents; I would have liked a bit more of the penguin and monkey slap-stick that sends the kids into hysterics. My movie test is how long it lingers with my own children. They laughed along at the time (in all the right and wrong places) and "crackalackin" became part of their vocab for a few days but it didn't get talked about much beyond the sitting. Have I dissed it too much? It was really quite okay. A good lighthearted escape from the heat and daily life over the summer break.