I Watch Films: Madagascar

Madagascar (2005)

Alex the Lion is the King of New York (zoo). His friends are Melman the giraffe (hypochondriac), Gloris the Hippopotamus (sassy), and Marty the zebra (extrovert). On Marty’s tenth birthday Marty is sad that he’s only ever lived in the zoo. Learning that the penguins Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private intend to escape, he leaves the zoo, intending to catch a train to Connecticut to see some fields. When the others learn he’s gone they go after him, catching up in Grand Central Station. Captured there by animal control, animal rights activists and public safety people team up and have the four animals, the four penguins and two chimps (one of whom comments on the action in a British accent, the other is his mute straight man) sent to a wildlife preserve in Kenya.

The four penguins escape, take control of the ship and head for Antarctica. Along the way the crates containing the four friends fall off and land on the beach in Madagascar. They meet lemurs, and scare off their predator fossa. Everyone blames Marty, but it turns out he’s much better at surviving than them, building a beachside bar with firepit and grill. Almost reconciled, Alex starts to feel hungry, and as an obligate carnivore starts to see his friends as steaks (which is what he was fed in New York).

Alex flees into the interior to avoid eating his friends. The lemurs ask for him to protect them. The ship returns (the penguins find Antarctica inhospitable) and Marty goes after Alex to get him back. When the fossa attack, the friends work together to stop them, and Alex overcomes his hunger. In the end they solve the problem by feeding him sushi, fish unlike mammals and birds not being talking animals*.

Watch This: Cartoon animals get up to hijinks, learn that friendship and teamwork are important
Don’t Watch This: It’s for kids, you’ve seen this story – and these jokes - before

* Though as Penguins Of Madagascar reveals, not Octopuses. SPOILERS for Penguins Of Madagascar there.