Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, the 2008 animated sequel to the hit film Madagascar, takes audiences on a wild ride from the island of Madagascar to the heart of Africa. Directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, this DreamWorks Animation production is filled with humor, heart, and valuable lessons about friendship, identity, and belonging.
This animated follow-up to the number one family comedy of 2005, Madagascar, is a total lark.
Let's explore the journey of Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria, and how their adventure in Africa shapes their understanding of themselves and their relationships.
The Crash Landing and Reunion
The film starts with a snapshot of the past. In Africa, the alpha lion Zuba tries to teach his young son Alakay how to fight, but Alakay is more interested in dancing.
The penguins have repaired an old plane and the animals stranded in Madagascar plan to use it to return to New York.
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Following their adventure in Madagascar, Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria, along with penguins Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private and chimpanzees Mason and Phil, prepare to return to New York aboard a battered airplane piloted by the penguins, accompanied by King Julien, Maurice and Mort.
But the plane doesn't get too far and is forced to land on the plains of Africa. The plane runs out of fuel and crash lands in continental Africa.
The animals find themselves at a watering hole on a nature reserve, and are excited to meet others of their species. Alex is reunited with his father Zuba and mother (Sherri Shepherd).
Slowly memories come back to him about his childhood. Alex is reunited with his parents and impresses them with tales of his status as "the king of New York".
Individual Journeys
Meanwhile, Alex's three closest friends face their own challenges. This time around all the animals are finding ways to express their individuality and their feelings.
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* Marty: Marty (Chris Rock), the fast-talking zebra, is thrilled to be able to run with his own kind but finds it troubling when he discovers that no one stands out in the community where they look alike and have so much in common. Marty fits in with a herd of other zebras who look and sound just like him.* Melman: Melman (David Schwimmer), the hypochondriac giraffe, takes the mantle of being a healer and enjoys the chance to help others. Melman, a hypochondriac, is distressed that the reserve has no doctors, so the other giraffes appoint him their witch doctor.* Gloria: But he is still too shy to express his feelings of love for Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith), the sassy hippo. At the watering hole, she is attracted to Moto Moto (will.i.am). Seeking romance, Gloria attracts the attention of the smooth-talking hippo Moto Moto.This time around all the animals are finding ways to express their individuality and their feelings.
Conflicts and Resolutions
In a scheme to oust Zuba as alpha lion, Makunga insists that Alex complete a rite of passage which the latter mistakes for a talent contest. It is actually a fighting contest, and Makunga tricks him into choosing Teetsi, the strongest lion as his opponent, resulting in Alex's humiliating defeat.
Meanwhile, Marty is dejected by the realization that the other zebras can do everything he can, believing himself no longer unique.
Melman comes to believe that he is deathly ill and, having secretly loved Gloria for a long time, is saddened by her interest in Moto Moto.
Gloria has a date with Moto Moto, but loses interest when she realizes he is only attracted to her because of her size. The four friends get into a heated argument with one another.
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The next day, the animals panic when the watering hole dries up.
Determined to redeem himself, Alex mends his friendship with Marty and they leave the reserve to investigate upriver.
Alex and Marty discover that the stranded humans have built a camp and dammed up the river, and Alex is captured by them.
Zuba rushes to his aid, but Alex saves them both by dancing for the humans, who remember him fondly from the zoo.
Marty, Melman, Gloria, the penguins, and the chimpanzees arrive in the repaired airplane and help Alex destroy the dam, restoring the water.
The Ending Explained
The film culminates in a satisfying resolution for all the characters:
* Water Restored: Alex's dance skills save the day by convincing the humans to remove the dam, restoring the water supply.* Love Found: Gloria realizes that Melman loves her for more than her appearance, leading to a heartwarming romantic connection.* Alpha Reclaimed: Makunga angrily makes a stand for control, but Alex tricks him into being subdued by Nana, forcing him out of power.* Family Acceptance: Zuba offers Alex the title of alpha lion, but he declines, believing the title belongs to his father. Alex earns his father’s respect when he puts his own life at risk for the good of the pride. And, ultimately, Dad learns to appreciate and respect his son’s interests and abilities, even though they’re not typical lion interests and abilities-Alex is a dancer, not a fighter.* Penguin Wedding: Skipper the penguin marries a bobblehead doll from the super plane, and he, the other penguins, and the chimpanzees head off to the honeymoon in Monte Carlo.By the end of Madagascar Return 2 Africa, he is able to kick up his paws and dance the night away!
Themes and Life Lessons
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is not just an entertaining animated film; it also offers several valuable life lessons:
* Friendship: Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria all remain loyal to one another, even when their relationships are challenged by circumstances and their own selfish choices.* Individuality: Though he is at first thrilled to have other zebra buddies around, Marty ultimately struggles with getting lost in the crowd, and he wonders whether there’s anything unique and special about himself. Alex is able to reassure his friend that he’s “one in a million.”* Family Bonds: Besides Alex’s relationships with his friends, his renewed familial connection is a major force in the movie. It’s clear from the flashback scene that Zuba and Alex had a special bond, and that Dad is devastated when he loses his young son.* Acceptance: Flashback scenes show us that Alex was “a strange one” from a young age. And they provide a built-in commentary on the film’s climactic reconciliation between Zuba and his son, reinforcing the idea that parents need to accept any way in which their children decide to be different, without ever trying to encourage responsible or even moral change.Critical Reception
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa received generally positive reviews from critics for its characters, humor and animation, with critics considering it an improvement over its predecessor.
Rotten Tomatoes reported that 64% of critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 5.9/10, based on 156 reviews. Shubra Gupta of The Indian Express wrote that the film was "as spunky, witty and funny" as its predecessor, and praised the animation and characters, but criticized the story for "[taking] the same course as The Lion King, with a detour towards Shrek thrown in."
Box Office Success
On its opening day, the film grossed $17,555,027 from 4,056 theaters with a $4,328 average. It went to be at No.
Special Features
Special features on the DVD include: a commentary by the filmmakers; featurettes: "It's a Family Affair: The Cast of Escape 2 Africa," "The Making of Escape 2 Africa," "Crash Landing," "African Adventure," "Jambo Jambo: Swahili Speak," and "Alex's Dance Off"; music videos: "Move It, Move It," "Big and Chunky," "She Loves Me," and "The Traveling Song Sing Along"; the DWA Jukebox; and a Test Flight of the Air Penguin Game.
Cast
The film features a star-studded cast, including:| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Ben Stiller | Alex |
| Chris Rock | Marty |
| David Schwimmer | Melman |
| Jada Pinkett Smith | Gloria |
| Sacha Baron Cohen | King Julien |
| Bernie Mac | Zuba |
| Sherri Shepherd | Florrie |
| Alec Baldwin | Makunga |
The film features Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter, Elisa Gabrielli, McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights, and Conrad Vernon reprising their voice acting roles from the first film, joined by new cast members Bernie Mac, Alec Baldwin, Sherri Shepherd, and will.i.am, as well as voice acting veteran John DiMaggio.
The film, like its predecessor, has a score composed by Hans Zimmer. Hans Zimmer returned to compose the score for the film, this time being joined by will.i.am.
Making a Crash Landing | Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
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