Madagascar 3 beats the threequel curse by turning out a hilarious - of the laugh-out-loud variety - globe-trotting spectacle with dazzling visuals and an emphasis on character development.
For once, 3D actually enhances the story-telling experience. Here, those pesky goggles are an acceptable trade-off, as the eye-popping technology immerses us into the action. The circus performance is presented in an abstract montage with high-flying trapeze, animal cannonball and other acts, in intense colours.
Alex and the gang's adventures in buying the circus and managing all the different personalities is thoroughly funny (check out Movie Buff for the plot). From the practice sessions and the 'rekindling the passion' speech, to Alex's 'Americano' brand of circus, the filmmakers clearly spent a great deal of time developing the characters and their contributions to the story.
New characters keep Madagascar 3 fresh. Dubois' menacing animalistic tendencies (she has the ability to replay events via smell) make her a formidable villain. But without question, it's the circus' troubled Siberian Tiger, Vitaly (Bryan Cranston), who brings out the most brilliant subplot. The back story of his rise and fall as a circus star is emotionally wrenching.
The Madagascar franchise has done it again. This new adventure by a familiar cast will have you roaring in no time.
