Disclosure: Dr
eamworks Animation invited me to a free advance screening of the film and event at the Bronx Zoo. The opinions are my own.
The Penguins of Madagascar aren’t just cute and cuddly; they are also a top secret espionage team. From infiltrating government bases to saving one of their own, there’s not much that they can’t do … if they’re given the chance. In the Penguins of Madagascar, they have to fight for that chance when they are in danger. Trying to stop them is the North Wind, a secret organization that protects those animals that cannot protect themselves – like penguins. Of course, they have no intention of leaving it to others to protect them. Instead, the Penguins try to do things themselves. The result is a cartoon slapstick comedy for kids, with explosions, some cartoon violence, plenty of jokes, and plenty of adorable penguins.
My take: I’ve never seen any of the Madagascar movies, so I don’t know how it fits in with the canon. It seems like this movie seeks to expand on the penguins, really giving depth to the characters, and it does. When I saw the movie, there were lots of laughs in the audience; the kids really enjoyed it. The adults will appreciate some jokes geared directly at them, including repeated puns with names. It doesn’t seem like this movie will cross over, though, so leave the teenagers at home. Just be aware that none of the other characters from the series spend more than a couple of scenes in the movie, so don’t go expecting to see them. This is just about the penguins.
Essential info: Penguins of Madagascar opens in theaters on November 26, 2014. The movie is rated PG and runs 94 minutes. Stars include: Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Jeong, John Malkovitch, Werner Hertzog
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