KIDS FIRST! Youth Film Critics Are Mad for ‘Madagascar 3’
The first Madagascar movie hit the screens in 2005, racked up a number of awards wins and nominations (including an ASCAP award for composer Hans Zimmer and a Kids Choice award for Chris Rock as the voice of Marty) and spawned two sequels and a TV series in seven short years. The latest from DreamWorks is Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, the the voices now indelibly associated with the main characters: Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Cedric the Entertainer.
KIDS FIRST! youth film critics share many reasons to head for the theaters once the movie is released on June 8: Brianna Beaton (age 12) notes in her review, “There are several great messages in this film, one being that if you have a strong passion for something, fight for it and do it no matter what.” Cheyenne Nguyen (age eight) recommends it “for kids ages 4 to 99.” Julianna Noone (age 12) says, “The animation is fantastic in this film, and … the 3-D in this movie is exceptional.” And the word from Anthony Aranda (age 9) is, “I really hope they make another Madagascar.” Their full reviews are below, and you can catch them on video as well.
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted
Reviewed by Brianna Beaton
(See her full review on video.)
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted is very hilarious, entertaining and lots of fun to watch. I love the 3-D animation, humor and songs Madagascar 3 has. The song clips and the graphics during the circus performance are outstanding. The film has a great story plot, is easy to follow and will definitely keep your attention.
Madagascar 3 is about four friends who are still trying to return to their Zoo in the Big Apple, New York City. They go thru Monte Carlo and attract the attention of Animal Control. While in Europe they hop on a train with some traveling circus animals to get back to their home once again. They go on a wild adventure trying to run from Animal Control and get back to the good ol’ US of A.
One of my favorite parts is when the friends make a sand version of their beloved New York. It’s such a great reproduction that it makes them homesick, which is the reason they all try to get back home in the first place. Another favorite part is when they are singing “Afro Circus.” It will have you singing right along with them. The film has lots of funny parts and will leave you feeling really good.
Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath and Conrad Vernon share in directing this hilarious film, and have done an outstanding job! It stars the voices of some great talent: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith and many more. DreamWorks Animation has done another great job with producing this film.
There are several great messages in this film, one being that if you have a strong passion for something, fight for it and do it no matter what. Also, go get what you want in life, don’t just wait for someone to give it to you. You can do it. To expect different results, sometimes you have to do something different.
Madagascar 3 is rated PG. I recommend it for ages 5 to 15 — I think it reaches out to young and older ages. Many parents will also enjoy this with their kids!
Overall, I give this film an overwhelming 5 out of 5 stars because it is funny, it has catchy music, and the messages it has are really great and you can learn a lot from them.
Madagascar 3 travels into theaters on June 8, so make sure to go see this hilarious film.
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted
Reviewed by Cheyenne Nguyen
(See her full review on video.)
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted is funny, has great music and is an out-of-this-world 3-D feature.
This is the second sequel to the animated movie Madagascar. Alex the lion (voice-over by Ben Stiller), the zebra Marty (by Chris Rock), the hippo Gloria (by Jada Pinkett Smith), the giraffe Melman (by David Schwimmer) — these four main characters want to go home to their New York City Zoo. Where ever they go, trouble follows.
Going through a lot of trouble to get the penguins to help them to go home, Alex, the lion, becomes the most wanted creature in Europe. The four main characters join the circus to take them home to America. They make new circus friends: The jaguar Gia (voiced by Jessica Chastain), the sea lion Stefano (by Martin Short) and the Siberian tiger Vitaly (by Bryan Cranston). 
The music is epic. It ranges from classic rock to hip hop to pop. You will leave the movie singing the theme song. The costumes are so colorful and very pretty. The 3-D brings everything so close to you that you want to move away in case it hits you. The laser lights are awesome. The cast is perfectly matched with the characters. The only bad part is the stereotyping — it makes fun of Europeans and Texans.
The lessons are there’s no place like home, friendships and joint efforts.
I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it for kids ages 4 to 99. I saw a lot of adults laughing hard.
This movie opens Friday June 8, 2012, in most theaters.
Madagascar 3 – Europe’s Most Wanted
Reviewed by Julianna Noone
(See her full review on video.)
What do you get when you take a traveling circus and add in zoo animals, penguins and some lemurs? You get another hit movie from DreamWorks Animation – Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.
This movie takes off where the last film left us, with Alex (voiced by Ben Stiller), Marty (voiced by Chris Rock), Melman (voiced by David Schwimmer) and Gloria (voiced by Jada Pinkett Smith) trying to get home to the Central Park Zoo. Written by Eric Darnell and Noah Baumbach and directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, this animated hit has a great message that it passes along in this film. In my opinion, the message of this film is that the journey is often more fulfilling than getting to your destination, particularly when you are with the ones you love. Or in other words, if you are with the ones you love then it doesn’t matter where you are, that place is home.
The four main characters start off in Africa trying to figure out how to meet up with the penguins and get back on track in getting back to the Central Park Zoo. They end up finding the penguins, but their journey is just getting started as they head off across Europe trying to not only get home, but to not be captured by the villainous Captain DuBois (voiced by Frances McDormand). They find the perfect cover in avoiding the Captain in joining a traveling circus. The addition of the circus allows for the introduction of many new characters, one of which is my favorite character, Stefano, who is a horn-blowing seal.
Stefano is a very nice, happy character, but admittedly is not very smart. This goofiness only adds to how cute he is. And while Stefano may not be that smart, it’s his brilliant idea that may save the circus and all his new friends who are trying to get back to their beloved zoo.
One of my favorite scenes is the Afro Circus scene, where Marty tries to blend in with the circus, donning a rainbow-colored wig and polka dots on his body. He performs the “Afro Circus” song that I am sure everyone has seen in the trailers. My other favorite scene is when King Julien (voiced by Sasha Baron Cohen) meets his true love, in the form of a giant, tricycle-riding bear.
The animation is fantastic in this film, and while 3-D doesn’t always work for me, the 3-D in this movie is exceptional, particularly in the climactic scenes toward the end of the movie.
I recommend this film for all ages, as adults will love the humor and storyline just as much as children will. Go see this animated hit in theaters on June 8.
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted
Reviewed by Anthony Aranda
(See his full review on video.)Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted is a really cool movie. This movie is amazing because of all the action and all the funny parts. I really enjoyed this movie because it is really animated and has a great storyline. I like how the movie has a bunch of characters that are really different and have such different personalities. That makes it really cool.Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most WantedThis movie is all about a lion and his friends who are in Africa and want to get home. So they travel to try to get back to New York. Their journey takes them through Europe, where they meet back up with the penguins. In Europe, animal control is after them the whole time they are there and end up following them even after they leave Europe.Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most WantedSome of the main characters in the movie are Alex, Marty, Gloria, Melman and the penguins. I liked all the characters because they were all great and some are funny and some are worried but they are all really great characters. If I had to choose a favorite I would pick Alex, the lion, because he is really funny, and when everyone in the circus is really sad he helps them to cheer up and become a big hit.
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most WantedMy favorite part in the movie is when the circus animals fly over the zoo to save Alex and his friends. This is really cool to me so when you see it you might like it. I also really like, at the end, where Marty sings a funny song dressed as a clown in polka dots and an afro. It is hilarious!
I would recommend this movie for all ages because all the parts are really funny and I think everyone would like it. This movie is really awesome and I really hope they make another Madagascar. Go out and see this movie in theaters on June 8.
Photos, top to bottom: Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted poster, Brianna Beaton, Cheyenne Nguyen, Julianna Noone, Anthony Aranda
