Pete Holland Jr.
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 Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 1:54 am Post subject: And, In Conclusion -- Madagascar 2 |
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Several years ago, I started writing a review of Scary Movie that I
never got around to finishing. When I saw Scary Movie 2, I realized I
had a leg up on writing the review, by simply taking my unfinished SM
1 review and, aside from a couple of changes to reflect the cast and
plot, it would do just fine. Everything comment about the first one
applied to the second one.
The primary difference between SM2 and Madagascar 2 is that I never
started writing a review of Madagascar 1. I saw the movie and was
distinctly underwhelmed. The movie was competently enough made. But
it just didn't do enough right. The jokes got laughs of recognition
rather than genuine laughs. The character arcs were simplistic and
dealt with grade-school level life lessons. And the penguins were
completely underused.
This go round, the penguins are even more in the background. The crew
is getting ready to head back to New York, but the plane crashes on an
African savannah. What do you know, it's where Alex the Lion was
actually born before he went to New York. But there's a power grab
going on between his dad and his dad's longtime rival. Marty
confronts his insignificance when he finds a herd of zebras that are
literally exactly like him. Melman confronts his mortality and his
feelings for Gloria. And Gloria...well, she starts dating.
Once again, lots of "jokes" that hinge on pop culture references.
When the plane takes flight at the start, you immediately know that a
Twilight Zone reference is coming. Julien is also around to make his
absurdist stabs at humor (you want to see this done right? Fred
Willard, "Best In Show," 'nuff said). All the characters interact,
and conflict between Alex and Marty is manufactured to separate them
so they can team up again later in the movie. You can literally see
the gears turning, how things are done or incorporated just to set up
cliche plot points and progression. It frankly sucks all the energy
out of the movie, because instead of following along with the
characters on their journeys (Marty is the only one of the quartet not
given a distinctive resolution to his insecurities), you are aware of
how the movie is using conditioned response to get your reactions.
It's not engaging, it's just hitting your hot buttons.
As with the first, the movie would be completely devoid of amusement
if it weren't for the penguins, who make the most of their scant
scenes. I know portraying penguins as shifty and sinister is old hat,
but Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights, and Conrad Vernon
bring such panache and fun to their roles, you can't wait for them to
show up again. Like Puss In Boots and Scrat, they are throwaway
characters that wind up stealing the show, because they are genuinely
likable and funny.
Beyond that, not much else going on here. The music score by Hans
Zimmer is up to his usual standards. Like John Powell and Alan
Silvestri, he knows how to deliver the goods. The computer animation
is nice, although it looks better when it is just showing scenery
instead of incorporating the other animals. Directing is standard.
It doesn't really have much comic timing, but then again, aside from
the penguins (hijacking the tour bus is especially great), there isn't
much here that requires expert timing. Sound, digital lighting,
everything is solid. It's just...unremarkable.
I guess the thing about Madagascar is that it is pretty typical of
modern American animation. Everybody put together what was expected
of the genre, but no one is really interested in pushing the
envelope. There certainly is potential to knock the ball out of the
park, but it's perfectly happy getting a base hit that advances the
runners. Pixar and movies like Kung Fu Panda are swinging for the
fences. This one is in the majors, but seems more like it's just
happy to be here. |
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