Preview: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)

• Poster: D+

Review:

Plain, overbearing and loud. It's like DreamWorks has taken too many pages from the Disney playbook.

• Trailer: B-; B; C

Review:

Why I found this funny is a question similar to the one I asked myself after I saw the first film. While it was entirely unexceptional story-wise, it was amusing and adorable at the same time. They seem to have taken that concept and pushed it a little farther than I think will be entertaining. However, the trailer is still amusing and may be worth a trip to the cineplex.

Extending the teaser with a few more parts of the opening scenes of the film preserves a lot of the plot's mysteriousness while giving the audience a few more comedic jolts to keep them interested.

The fun of the first two trailers is virtually non-existent in this full length trailer. While the first ones whetted our appetite, this one seems to sour it. It almost appears like the film is vacantly humorless.

Oscar Prospects:

Sequels have a varied history with the Academy's animation branch. It could be a nominee, but I doubt it will be able to beat out Wall-E or Kung Fu Panda for slots and the third will likely to go some as-yet-seen indie darling.

Release Date:

• November 7, 2008

Full Review Synopsis:

I have not seen this film.

-Wesley Lovell (June 15, 2008) Original

-Wesley Lovell (August 3, 2008) Buy the Poster Enabled

-Wesley Lovell (August 31, 2008) New Trailer

-Wesley Lovell (October 5, 2008) New Trailer