Over the course of this blog, I
have regularly provided commentary concerning the race for animated supremacy
between Disney Pixar and DreamWorks Animation, and with new releases Brave and Madagascar 3 opening within just two weeks of each other, the Summer
2012 Movie Season seemed primed to provide one hell of a battleground. Now, personally, the Madagascar series remains one of my absolute favorite animated
franchises, so when I first caught wind of Europe’s
Most Wanted, I was absolutely ecstatic, and King Julien’s take on “I Like
to Move It” was firmly stuck in my head.
Aside from trailers and posters heightening awareness, DreamWorks’
Consumer Products division went into overdrive to make sure that anticipation
was through the roof, whether that involved character-specific Blue Bunny ice
cream bars and L’Oreal Kids shampoos, or the always-popular McDonald’s Happy
Meal. I also couldn’t help but notice
that promotions placed a very strong emphasis on seeing the film in 3D; granted,
with this being the third film in the series, that kind of association is a
no-brainer, but with the fugitive-circus angle provided by the narrative, it
looked like it would be well-worth it to shell out a few extra bucks for RealD
glasses (though the character-specific frames were only being given to children’s
ticket holders…damn). Needless to say,
my hopes were very high, and by all early accounts, it looked like Alex, Marty,
Gloria, and Melman were not going to disappoint.
Visually gorgeous, emotionally
rewarding, creative, silly, and comedically-brilliant, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted is easily the strongest in the
series and one of the best animated films to hit theaters in years. Start-to-finish, I don’t think I have ever
laughed as consistently in a film as I have in Europe’s Most Wanted, which achieves the rare balance of offering rewarding
humor for both children and adults, all of which is brought together with
top-of-the-line voice acting. In terms
of the rewarding new characters integrated seamlessly into the narrative,
whether it is the conniving villain Captain Chantel DuBois or the eccentric
circus animals, each personality is so engaging that you cannot wait for their
return in a future sequel. Add
impressive animation and surprisingly nail-biting action to the equation, and
this animated entry has an undeniable energy that makes it a perfect film for multiple
demographics. Whether you are a fan of
the series or simply someone looking for some lighthearted adventure and
genuine laughs at the theater, you cannot afford to miss Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.
Overall Recommendation: Very High
