Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
201290 minutes
Rated PG (for... I have absolutely no idea)
by Scott Mendelson
Madagascar 3 is so substance-free that one almost feels the need to apologize for enjoying it. It tells a story that is almost thinner than the first film and certainly less introspective than the second film's family drama. And it rivals Back to the Future II for an almost complete lack of overt 'drama'. But it *is* completely enjoyable and again proves that the technical side of Dreamworks Animation doesn't do anything half-assed. It is a visually splendid adventure that continues the franchise's refreshingly small-scale storytelling. Come what may, the Madagascar series exists as a definitive 'western' animated series with a specifically Jewish sensibility. Once again the primary conflict is 'untamed wilderness versus civilization' while the primary character arcs involve our heroes dealing with their own neuroses. Yes there is an outside threat, but the primary battle once again lies within.
