Movie Review Monday: Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Once upon a time, I saw Madagascar in the theater, and I wasn't paying attention the whole time, and I left thinking it was the lamest cartoon since The Land Before Time XI*. A year later, I met Jeff (my now husband), and learned that he had what appeared to be an unhealthy obsession with the film. Well, long story slightly less long, I gave in to watching it a second time and learned that it was basically comedic genius. Madagascar 2 was even more genius and we saw it twice in the theater. Therefore, my hopes were high for the third installment. Thoughts:


1. It needed more Mort. Somehow, Andy Richter giggles a few times throughout this film (and the prior two films, for that matter) and it is freaking hilarious every time. I could have used more of those moments though.

Tra-la-la-la!

2. It also needed more King Julian. I'm not a big Sasha Baren Cohen fan (in fact, I'm such a not fan that I'm not going to bother looking up the correct spelling of his name), but this character is hilarious. Completely idiotic and completely self-absorbed, and he has no filter, which is a quality I love in an animated lemur. In the previous two films, he has been completely quote-worthy. Not so much in this one. 


3. The animal control character, voiced by Frances McDormand, was awesome. She sniffed the ground like a dog, used her unexpectedly amazing singing voice to magically heal her team and spur them on to find Alex the Lion, and I'm pretty sure she derived some kind of power from her bright red lipstick. Amusing.

4. I appreciated that there was only one scene with clowns in it despite the fact that this had a circus theme. Shudder. 


5. The first 3/4 of the film were classic Madagascar. Quippy, quick, and quirky (unintended alliteration!), it sped by. But then we ran into a whole touchy feely circus act, and the plot came to a grinding halt of meh-ness. To the point where I don't have much else to say.


In conclusion, I give Madagascar 3 one claw up. But I give the prior two films two claws up each, so please don't disregard the franchise based off this review. 


*I've never actually seen The Land Before Time XI, but...come on. Eleven?