After the stupendous success of
Madagascar (2005), DreamWorks has decided to come out with its sequel which is strictly
for children.
This time around, best friends Alex the lion (Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Rock), Melman the giraffe (Schwimmer) and Gloria (Smith) the hippo are all ready to return to New York after their adventures in Madagascar.
The penguins (Tom McGarth, Christopher Knights and Chris Miller) have rebuilt an old plane and along with lemurs King Julien (Sache Baron Cohen) and Maurice (Cedric the Entertainer), and the chimp (Conrad Vernon) they set off for New York.
The rickety plane crashes, as expected, in an African game reserve and the four friends get separated as they join their own kind.
Alex is united with his long-lost parents - dad Zuba (the late Bernie Mac) and mother (Sherri Shepherd). However, Alex's return is not well received by Makunga (Alex Baldwin), a lion who has been vying for Zuba's position as the Alpha male of the pride.
The movie also touches on Melman's unspoken love for Gloria and the strained friendship between Alex and Marty. As usual Cohen delivers lots of laughs as the dizzy King Julien and the penguins with their gung-ho behaviors are hilarious as well. And the part about how Alex's parents recognize him from his birthmark is pure Bollywood.
As a whole, this animated feature seems inspired by other cartoons (including
Lion King) but has so many funny moments you can easily forgive the makers.