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Movies / On DVD / Madagascar
Madagascar

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Madagascar (2005)

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Reviews Counted:179

Fresh:98

Rotten:81

Average Rating:6/10

Consensus: A solid if unspectacular CGI flick.

Runtime: 86 mins

Genre: Childrens

US Box Office: $193,136,719

Synopsis: The friendship between a New York City lion and zebra is tested when fate brings them out to the unforgiving wilderness in this computer-animated DreamWorks feature. Chris Rock does the voice of... The friendship between a New York City lion and zebra is tested when fate brings them out to the unforgiving wilderness in this computer-animated DreamWorks feature. Chris Rock does the voice of Marty the Zebra, whose longing to explore beyond his cushy Central Park Zoo boundaries is the impetus that ultimately strands him and his pals on the shores of savage Madagascar. Marty loves the new, edible scenery, but his best friend Alex (voiced by Ben Stiller) the Lion begins to starve since his diet of thick steaks has been cut off, and the rump of his friend starts to look mighty tasty. Their other friends, a hypochondriac giraffe (David Schwimmer) and a sassy hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith), try their best to think of a solution as the call of the wild slowly turns the starving Alex into Marty's worst nightmare. Meanwhile the hilariously self-aggrandizing King of the Ocelots (Sacha Cohen) has a plan to use Marty to repel their own carnivore problem. This kid-oriented comedy stays adult-friendly every step of the way thanks to a clever script that mixes New Yorker humor and even some existentialism in with the pratfalls and spit-takes. Jolts of comedic brilliance are supplied by some Arctic-bound escaped con penguins, and a couple of literary apes. It's not a musical, but classic songs from the likes of Louis Armstrong and Sammy Davis Jr. keep the montages flowing loose and sassy. [More]

Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer

Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter

Director: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath

Director: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath
Screenwriter: Mark Burton, Tom McGrath, Billy Frolick, Eric Darnell
Producer: Mireille Soria
Composer: Hans Zimmer
Studio: DreamWorks Distribution LLC

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Reviews for Madagascar

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
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A promising premise, a top voice cast and a studio with an impressive track record sets up expectations that Madagascar just can't fulfill.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
05/10/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Too kiddie-oriented to keep the parents coming back like they have for the likes of the vastly superior Shrek, Nemo and Incredibles films.

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
10/30/06
Garth Franklin
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Feels as if it has been created from an animator's template.

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
07/05/05
Sydney Morning Herald
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: In Film Australia | comment Comment
06/17/05
Luke Buckmaster
Luke Buckmaster
In Film Australia
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

A foursome of digitally animated zoo animals escape the inner city confines of Manhattan's Central Park Zoo in search of freedom that's not be all it's cracked up to be in this well-defined children's comedy.

Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | comment Comment
04/16/09
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

The character design is ugly; the main characters are often annoying; the humor is generally weak; and the computer-generated animation is often soulless.

Full Review Source: ESplatter | comment Comment
11/12/08
Steve Biodrowski
Steve Biodrowski
ESplatter

...an engaging little diversion that maintains its charm with repeat viewing.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
09/22/08
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

Lame scatalogical gags and worn pop-culture parodies abound, but the CGI animation romp is somewhat redeemed by the scene-stealing appearances of several supporting characters.

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
09/20/08
Erin Clements
Erin Clements
Time Out New York

Amiably entertaining.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
08/11/08
Daniel Etherington
Daniel Etherington
Channel 4 Film

A likeable and loose-limbed addition to the ever-growing CGI family.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
02/26/07
Kevin Lally
Kevin Lally
Film Journal International

I wanted a moral to the story. In Finding Nemo: Don't let fear rule your life. Shrek: True beauty is on the inside. Madagascar: Don't eat your friends?

Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment 2 Comments
09/27/06
Camerin Courtney
Camerin Courtney
Christianity Today

Lame scatalogical gags and worn pop-culture parodies abound, but the CGI animation romp is somewhat redeemed by the scene-stealing appearances of several supporting characters.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

If we're not suffering poo-flinging or butt-biting, we get the theme songs from Chariots of Fire and Hawaii Five-O.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
05/26/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Es un ejemplo claro de que la animación todavía tiene mucho que ofrecer, aunque sea de manera sencilla.

Full Review Source: Moviola | comment Comment
04/20/06
Jorge Avila Andrade
Jorge Avila Andrade
Moviola

What a joy. Just a fun good-hearted film. I giggled nearly the whole time.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Report Card | comment Comment
03/10/06
Ross Anthony
Ross Anthony
Hollywood Report Card

Not a bad movie by any stretch of the imagination, but nothing particularly amazing either.

Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | comment Comment
01/13/06
JoBlo
JoBlo
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

Doesn’t really live up to the promise that the idea and voice talent deserve. But it’s still spirited, amiable, featherweight summer fun.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/07/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It should mostly catch the attention of the younger set, but there are some gags left over for their parents (lots of slick cultural references and poo yuks).

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
11/24/05
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The tenor can be shrill, but there's no time to get bored. And on top of that, most of the gags actually work.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
09/26/05
Tasha Robinson
Tasha Robinson
AV Club
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
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Latest News for Madagascar

December 05, 2008: UK Critics Consensus: Writers Warm to Madagascar 2; UK Critics Liked Lakeview Terrace
With thirteen new releases in the UK cinemas this weekend, let Rotten Tomatoes help you sort the tinsel from the turkeys. We have animals on the loose in Madagascar: Escape 2... More...

August 15, 2008: Weekly Ketchup: Kung Fu Panda 2, Wheel of Time and more
This week's Ketchup bottle brings news about Kung Fu Panda 2, Madagascar 3, development news about the Wheel of Time series, and casting news about Mike Myers and Billy Bob... More...

June 07, 2007: Release Dates Set for "Shrek 4" and "Shrek 5"
Well, release years anyway, according to Jeffrey Katzenberg. More...

March 08, 2007: Chris Rock Hangs with Zebra Pack in "Madagascar 2"
"Madagascar" had Marty the zebra searching for his wild home in the jungles of Africa. Since the movie made so much money, all the zoo animals are back in the wild for... More...

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