Review: Madagascar 3

My expectations were low for Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. By the time most children's series have become trilogies, they've devolved into tired rehashes of past plotlines barely fit for plasma, much less silver screens ... not unlike Shrek 3. The strongest counterexample to this rule is Disney's Toy Story 3, an achievement the likes of which few animated movies will ever hope to approach.

Like its furry protagonists, Madagascar 3 breaks the rules, making for an enjoyable and fun-filled trip to the cinema.

Returning stars Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, and Jada Pinkett Smith are joined by Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter, Tom McGrath, Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston, Martin Short and Frances McDormand, who voices a character modeled heavily based on Lucile Ball.

If that stellar cast wasn't enough, the music and visual gags -- including several homages to Inception -- make the movie fun for adults as well as kids.

Directed by co-writer Eric Darnell (Antz, Madagascar, Madagascar 2), Tom McGrath (Madagascar, Megamind, Madagascar 2), and Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2, Monsters vs Aliens), it is Noah Baumbach's (The Life Aquatic, Fantastic Mr. Fox) co-writing that helps lift the Madagascar circus to the highest platform.

Madagascar 3 stands alone well, even if you haven't seen the first two movies in the series. Dreamworks Animation's artists have outdone themselves with the two circus performances that provide the 3D payoff. The rest of the film would have been best left in 2D, but these spectacular scenes are worth the price of admission. All rainbows and sparkles, some might call them the fruition of the gay master plan, but they're a hell of a good show.

Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages will all find something to love in this explosive conclusion to the Madagascar trilogy.