Madagascar (2005) User Reviews (476)

Hey! Chill! It was a good movie

[Smells_Like_Cheese · 8/10 · 4 November 2006]

I have to admit, I was sick of the over advertising, but I decided to give Madagascar a chance. Lately, I've actually been getting more into the computer animation flicks and wanted to see what Madagascar was all about. I don't get why there are a lot of users here on IMDb that absolutely hate this film or didn't really get into it, because I thought it was a very cute and enjoyable film for the kids and adults.

Marty, Meldman, Alex, and Gloria are all zoo kept animals who are pampered all day and entertain humans on a constant schedule. Marty wants more though, he wonders where he comes from and what it would be like to be in the wild. Alex, the lion, is truly against this and will have no part of it, but tries to find Marty after he escapes. The rest of the gang follows, but they are caught by the animal catchers and are sent back, but accidentally fall of the boat shipping them home and they end up on an island called Madagascar. They are "welcomed", if that's the right word, by other animals and must learn how to survive, but it's going to be hard when Alex is starving for meat!

I loved the American Beauty and Chariot of Fire references, I thought they were just so funny! There are more than a few good laughs in this film and I felt like it was being unfairly rated here on IMDb, yes, it's not as great as The Incredables, but I really feel like anyone could love this film. I'm actually going to be on my way to buy it, I loved it that much, so please give this movie a fair chance. Believe me, it's worth your time.

8/10

Madagascar - a great ride!

[canuckteach · 8/10 · 29 May 2005]

Lots of fun - I saw it with the grandkids and a theater full of families. a great time was had by all. technically speaking, one might say that the story was 'uneven' in places (can you say *that* about animated films? (-:) -- I mention this because there has been some needlessly negative feedback here at IMDb. On the whole, though, the presentation is quick-paced, bright, happy, and delightful to the eyes and ears. There are also some unique, quirky scenes (i.e. animals nonchalantly getting on a subway?) - I love to see stuff I haven't seen before. that's not easy to do, you know - by all accounts, "everything has been done on film already.." - (if you catch my drift). so, give credit when due! enjoy!(-:

Fun movie for the family

[ArizWldcat · 7/10 · 2 June 2005]

There are so few movies that you can enjoy as a family, so perhaps I've given this more stars than it deserves. I did laugh out loud several times. The jokes are mostly "pop culture" references; for example, (the zebra (Chris Rock) has a treadmill in his area (not a cage, really) at the zoo.

This is sort of a twist on the fish out of water movies, as the zoo animals, according to the local animal rights activists, don't belong in the zoo; they are shipped off to Africa. Hilarity ensues; the animals don't end up at the planned destination and find out that they don't necessarily belong in the wild either. What I found unique about this movie is that for once, the actual nature of the animal is acknowledged. Ben Stiller's lion character realizes that everyone looks like a steak and wants to eat everyone. Of course, he realizes that he's "wrong" (HUH??) and tries to change. The kids loved it, I wasn't totally bored out of my mind, and the animation was pretty good, I thought. The penguins were especially cute. Wish they'd had more screen time.

Madagascar

[0U · 17 February 2020]

A great story of friendship and survival where an animal escapes from the zoo and his friends go to pick it up but everything goes wrong. The plot and their misadventures are quite original and the whole thing is rendered very well and generates great fun

So Much Could Have Happened on This Island...

[T1Thousand · 6/10 · 1 June 2005]

Okay. Here we go. Before watching this film, if you read what it is going to be about, you will find something that could be promising. Four animals that are close friends in a zoo end up being stranded in the wild where one of them--the lion--finds out that it is his nature to hunt down the other three. Now that makes a good story! But the thing is that the story barely even touched on that. It seemed to go nowhere and throughout the time that I watched this, I felt as if it were still beginning and we were being introduced to the characters, including the ones that later come into play. I didn't feel as if the peak of the plot was ever reached because I started thinking: What is the plot? Where is this movie trying to go? Nothing really happens. This film is like a large introduction that never really goes anywhere. It barely touches the middle of the story when it suddenly ends. A big hole was certainly there when the credits came up. A lot could have been done with this story. We also never really connect with any of the characters. They are just there. The voices are done well and they really match with the characters, but that's mostly it. There is not a lot of character development. But the good news is that many kids will enjoy this. There is plenty of light humor, especially with the penguins who steal the show most of the time. There are cute parts and the visuals are all right. This is no Shrek and it is a little below Shark Tale in my opinion. Dreamworks could have had a much better film. So much more could have happened on this island, but alas we were only introduced to it and nothing else. No, this movie is not horribly bad, but it is not very good either. I give it an average at best. It is watchable but that is it for me. The story was handled too weakly. This movie really had potential. But hey, at least the kids most likely will enjoy it =)

5.8/10 Stars

A Nutshell Review: Madagascar

[DICK STEEL · 6/10 · 25 May 2005]

Dreamworks Animation SKG has set high standards with its Shrek series, and follow ups like Shark Tale. Somehow this film falls short of expectations, and the best bits seemed to have been featured in the trailers.

Without going into the story details which you can piece together from promotions - this one has neither the zaniness nor a level of adult sophistication which we are spoilt with, and it seemed pretty back to basics.

Sure the spoofs are there - but not as rampant as the other animations (See? I'm comparing here! It's the standards that are set! I can't help it!). I've only managed to spot Zoolander, American Beauty, Cast Away, and given the premise, how can anyone not spoof the reality TV series Survivor? The lack of spoofs might not mean much, but dialogue without much wit doesn't cut out for me. Louis Armstrong's Born Free being played ad nausem also got to me.

Despite its flaws, the animation is still top notch. The animals are beautifully drawn, and as always, contain that hint of their real life actors in them, like caricatures. In the zebra, you see Chris Rock, the Lion, the cockiness and self-importance of most Ben Stiller's reel life characters, and David Schwimmer's prominent neck resulted in him being handed the role of the giraffe. Jada Pinkett Smith as the hippopotamus? Now that's something different! Some of you might fall in love with the potential of the supporting characters, and at times, it seemed that they upstage the main leads. The pair of monkeys (one can read but can't speak, the other can't read but speaks with a stiff upper lip), the gang of penguins (they steal the show each scene they're in), a squirrel with rip-off Shrek's-puss-in-boots eyes (awww...), and my personal favourite - the crazed Lemur King, who speaks like an Indian chief (he sounds like one anyway!).

Perhaps with a little bit of direction and a more focused script (for kids? Or for adults? Or having elements of both to entertain adults and kids alike? Kids were falling asleep in this film - a sin for animation!) this could turn out into a hit. Alas the Dark Side of the Force is strong, and I really don't see this scaling to the peak of the (US) movie charts and dethroning the Sith.

The saving grace for me - the madcap jungle banghra rave party! WOOHOO! Repeated again as the end credits roll, but nothing at the end except for a hippo who thinks its a Tinkerbell.

Someone's got a zoo loose.

[Lady_Targaryen · 7/10 · 23 March 2006]

I watched ''Madagascar'' last year in the cinema, and even not being one of my favorite movies from Pixar, I think it is funny in many ways. But I watched it in Portuguese, and yesterday,watching again in English, I was surprised and happy to see the voices of Ben Stiller(Alex) Chris Rock(Marty) David Schwimmer(Melman) Jada Pinkett Smith(Gloria)! I didn't like very much the end of the movie, but was nice to see many references of other movies and people there.

Funny facts I read in the trivia section: None of the main character animals (lion, zebra, giraffe or hippo) are actually housed at the Central Park Zoo.( I never went to the Central Park Zoo, but I find so strange the idea of a zoo not having any of these animals)

Ps:The Penguins and the two monkeys are some of the most funny parts of this movie.

Hey! This is a funny movie and you just might like it

[sofiaSfromPasto · 9/10 · 14 January 2021]

Madagascar is a movie produced by Dreamworks under the direction of Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, who undoubtedly achieved the perfect fusion between 3D animation and comedy, deriving as a final product a film for all audiences full of funny moments, moving music and really good animation for 2005, when watching the film you could tell just by seeing the characters their feelings and expressions that the animation team led by Shannon Jeffries as art director wanted to portray them to us.

The story of the film begins in the New York zoo, where there's a very diverse group of friends, consisting of a lion who is the protagonist (Alex), his best friend, a zebra (Marty), a hippopotamus (Gloria) and a giraffe (Melman). It all begins when Marty, on his 10th birthday, regrets how routine his life has become, which is increased by his desire to know what there is outside the walls that keep him captive, this dream of changing his life, combined with the ideas of a group of penguins which act as a squad of soldiers, leads this group of friends on many adventures.

The film is very entertaining, since its mixture of fiction and reality along, with some moments of dark humor, keep the audience focused on what will happen next during the film's 82 minutes, additionally, it instills important values like friendship and the anthropomorphic behavior of the characters will make us feel even more involved in the story that is presented to us.

Cute for kiddies but not the kid in me.

[sunraider · 6/10 · 1 June 2005]

I was rather disappointed with this film. As an adult, I found the film mediocre overall. The jokes were not very funny and I found the voice-overs rather bland (especially for "Alex" the lion), with the exception of David Schwimmer. My interest in the story lessened considerably when the animals left New York and arrived in Madagascar. I think the film would have been better if the animals had decided to make a break for Connecticut or Montana rather than having them be shipped off to Africa. The scene-stealers were the penguins, who were quite amusing, and the best sequence in the entire movie was the opening shot of a chorus of penguins singing "Born Free." While watching the film, I kept hoping the main characters would leave and the penguins would return. The littlest tykes in the theater seemed to enjoy this a bit, but adults will find it not worth their while.

A nice surprise

[bullseye_au · 9/10 · 14 June 2005]

The mood you're in when you see a movie has a big impact on how much you enjoy it. I saw this in a cinema packed with young families and it went down well. I laughed a lot, so did my kids, and so did the cinema. I explained to my daughter that pansy meant softy, so I even felt useful.

Having young children means I have sat through quite a lot of this genre, and the use of computers in animation makes things a little over-refined. I seem to be the only person who finds Pixar movies too polished, faultless, and stale. This film can be abrupt and patchy, but in my opinion that makes it more spontaneous.

The movie looks great, the penguins are funny, the king is funny, and the pace and energy are good. About 90 minutes is also the correct length. The plot may be thin but the survival concepts that pepper the movie are good intellectual fodder for children.

Good kid flick

[jj112399 · 7/10 · 25 May 2005]

We saw a screening of this last night. It was me and my 5 year old, who was very excited to be seeing it, from viewing all the commercials about it's release coming up. My daughter loved the music and dance sequences. She also like how "sassy" the Hippo Gloria was. I felt the movie moved very quickly. The animation was good, what one would expect from Dreamworks. There was a lot of funny dialogue between the characters. I felt the Giraffe Melman character was a bit annoying and nerve racking. I would recommend for kids 5 and under. The music made my daughter want to dance at the end. She enjoyed the experience. I enjoyed Chris Rock's character the Zebra. He had many humorous lines. Ben Stiller didn't really come across as being the best voice for the Lion Alex.

Lived Up To Good Reputation - Funny, Colorful

[ccthemovieman-1 · 10/10 · 25 January 2007]

Here's another recently-made animated film that has two outstanding characteristics which make it a winner: 1 - consistently funny humor that adults can enjoy, and 2 - beautiful, bold colors.

When a movie is both fun to hear and to watch, I have very few complaints. This movie provides a lot of enjoyment with more jokes perhaps that adults would laugh at than the kids. I can't say that for sure, since I watched it by myself....but I sure got my share of laughs

This is a tale of four zoo animals that wind up in the wilds. To be more precise, they go from the big zoo in New York City to the wilds of Madagascar, an island near Africa. Wherever these "guys" are - the lion, zebra, hippo and giraffe - they are entertaining.

Ben Stiller and Chris Rock, voicing the lion ("Alex") and zebra ("Marty"), respectively, are the two main characters. Jada Pinkett Smith's hippo ("Gloria") and and David Schwimmer's hypochondriac giraffe ("Melman") provide solid support. The main thing is that all the characters, including supporting ones, are likable and funny in their own way. Every character is quite different. The story movies exceptionally fast so the hour-and-a-half is easy to watch.

Maybe the best thing I can say is that I heard a lot of good things about this before watching it, and it lived up to its hype. That's not easy to do.

Could Have Been Cuter than Cute

[lambiepie-2 · 6/10 · 29 May 2005]

There were a few very bright moments in this film that many film goers will just love -- but here's the thing...I really feel that this film was rushed to completion. There are a lot of holes that could have been taken care of with just two or three minutes more of film to tie it all in.

Then .... there are the jokes they threw in for the adults. Good jokes for adults but the kids didn't get anything out of it. Using adult jokes was a formula that was used for Shrek -- and worked really well because they were crafty and sharp..and also were placed where a child could get something out of it too.

Madagascar could have been cuter than cute...and a lot of fun. I took a few children under 8 with me and they kinda liked it - the colors, the music, the voices so it can be good on that level - to take the kids to a show. It has a few things that will keep your interest here and there, but as a total effort, it sadly falls short.

It was OK

[zenstain · 5/10 · 28 May 2005]

Moderately funny movie. Decent lines, some funny moments. I have to admit I liked Ali G as the king lemur singing "Move It" as did my 7 and 4 year olds. Some funny visuals as well (won't spoil those here) but this movie is nowhere in the league of Shrek or the better Disney stuff, and certainly not as funny as the highlight reel that was the trailer being shown for the last couple of weeks on television. If you haven't gone yet, you might want to wait until it hits your local second-run discount theater, or just rent it because as another poster mentioned, it is in no way worth spending $50+ for a family of four. And the poster who gave it a 10-star review, along with his blathering drivel of a review ("reel" indeed, ugh) is an obvious studio plant, pay it no mind.

Love The Penguins

[Chrysanthepop · 16 January 2009]

'Madagascar' is by no means the worst CGI animated flick but it's far from the great movies Pixar has given us over the last 10 years. Storywise, it is simple enough for kids to enjoy but there are too many plot holes so forget about educating them about animals. The pacing is quite bad as it really slows down in the middle. Some of the gags are overdone and as a result, they fall flat. The dialogues are mostly okay.

The CGI is far from terrific but the vivid colours somehow make up for it. The virtual Madagascar is colourful and spectacular to look at. There is plenty of energy (sometimes a bit too much) to keep the audience tuned.

The characters are a tad over the top. Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith are alright. Ben Stiller tends to be a little irritating. McGrath, Knights and Miller totally rock as the three penguins. For me, the penguins were the best and funniest parts.

'Madagascar' may not be the best example of entertaining CGI flicks but it makes for a decent one time watch as long as the viewer is willing to suspend their beliefs to a certain extent.

Fun

[StainGirlLives · 6/10 · 5 January 2006]

Madagascar is from the same creators as Shrek and Shark Tale. The story starts in Central Park Zoo, New York, the home of Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe, Gloria the hippo, Alex the lion, a bunch of crazy penguins and some monkeys. The penguins are digging their way to 'the wild', but find Marty instead, and Marty instantly starts dreaming of going into the wild too. Followed by his friends, Marty escapes, but they get caught again, and this means a new beginning for all of them: they are shipped off, to be put in a natural habitat in a wild-life reserve. Because of the penguins hijacking the boat, Marty and friends strand in the real 'wild': Madagascar. A whole new world opens up for the animals, who have been living in the city zoo their entire life.

This is a very fun movie. It isn't well constructed and it doesn't even make much sense, but it's just crazy fun like Shrek II and Shark Tale. The voice-casting is very well done, especially Chris Rock as hyperactive zebra Marty, David Schwimmer as Melman, the neurotic giraffe, and last but definitely not least: Sacha Baron Cohen (Ali G) as King Julien, the lemur leader. Their voices sound like the characters really are.

I don't believe this movie was meant to be taken seriously, and it is best you don't. Once in a while you get references to other movies, American Beauty being the most obvious. Every single animal is slightly (or completely) nuts: e.g. Melman the giraffe is addicted to doctors and medication, and the penguins are psychotic. Speaking of which, the penguins are simply hilarious. Best to pull up one eyebrow before starting to watch the movie … just to be prepared, and you can be sure to leave the theater with a beat and 'I like to move it, move it' in your head.

Best Dreamworks CGI film ever!!!

[beccad90 · 7/10 · 27 December 2005]

Beccad90's Overview:

Plot: Good

Characters: Great

Reasons to watch: Madagascar is...well the title says it all. It's worth watching, much more than Shrek II, which really grates on your nerves when played over and over again...trust me...I know....anyway, it is very funny and entertaining, especially with funnymen Ben Stiller and Chris Rock paired with Friends' Dave Schwimmer and Mrs. Fresh prince herself, Jada Pinkett Smith. Alongside are Sacha Baron Cohen (aka Borat) and Cedric The Entertainer, which makes for an excellent film.

Basic Plot: Alex (Stiller), a big-time lion, Gloria (Smith), a maternal yet tough-&-gritty hippo, Marty (Rock), a daydreaming zebra and Melman (Schwimmer), a neurotic giraffe are all neighbors at the Central Park Zoo. Marty, however, longs to go to "The Wild." He gets his wish when he escapes from the zoo and heads for the train station. Soon after, they are shipped to a Kenya wildlife preserve, but the crates they are in fall off the ship and they wash up on the shore of...the title says it all...Madagascar, where they (especially Alex) get in touch with their wild side...literally...

Benifits: If you are sick of all those Shrek Movies...this will be a nice sigh of relief...

Flaws: If watched repeatedly, as all family or kids movies, it will grate on your nerves a little...

Favorite Character: I'm not sure...

Fave Moment: When the four animals wash up and reunite. When Alex runs to Marty in slow motion (Vangelis' famous "Chariots of Fire" theme plays here)and they appear happy for a moment...and Alex's face suddenly turns angry and Alex is furiously and comically chasing Marty along the shore.

I give it a 7/10.

MADAGASCAR: Nothing Too Great, But Nothing Bad Either...

[cwrdlylyn · 7/10 · 4 April 2006]

MADAGASCAR

I know people were really hoping this movie wouldn't make it into the 2006 shortlist for Best Animated Feature... and the nominations went to CORPSE BRIDE, W&G, and HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE. Well I won't argue that this film was robbed of a nomination, but it certainly wouldn't have been a travesty if MADAGASCAR had made the list.

While not a remarkable, landmark achievement, MADAGASCAR is still an entertaining animated film. Featuring some wonderfully stylized animation and some perfect marriages of voice-actors with their characters, the film is constantly entertaining and humorous.

What MADAGASCAR does lack is any significant depth. Any layer to the characters is utilized for comedy instead of played for sincerity. That is until the very end when Alex the Lion has a change of heart. But everything that precedes that treats the animal's personalities as shamelessly shallow comedic creations.

Now, that doesn't do much for the film's artistic merit... but it does make for a good time. Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett-Smith, David Schwimmer, and the rest of the cast are obviously having a good time voicing these characters and the fun permeates through the screen. Their performances mixed with the stylized animation is really what keeps the film alive.

It tells the story of Alex the Lion (Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Rock), Gloria the Hippo (Pinkett-Smith) and Melman the Giraffe (Schwimmer) as they are shipped back to the wild despite their affection for the Central Park Zoo. They've been zoo animals for years and aren't ready for the sudden shift to embrace their wild instincts. However, somehow they adjust and remain friends.

It's a predictable story arch and it definitely starts to lag when the film tries to switch gears into more dramatic territory at the very end. The comedic addition of the Lemurs in MADAGASCAR was obviously done to appeal to young kids and get even more laughs... however, for me the Lemurs were unnecessary superfluous distractions that only made the film drag.

Still, the 4 central characters are very appealing and well-voiced by the respective actors. MADAGASCAR isn't perfect, it's a movie I would never praise with love... but I also don't really have anything too negative to say. I will say that I found it better then Dreamworks' more critically acclaimed SHREK.

MADAGASCAR can't be deemed any revelation... but in terms of harmless children/family entertainment this is an entertaining ride that earned the box-office success it received.

... C+ ...

It's no "Shrek" or "Finding Nemo" but it's worth the $8.25

[originalcrystaltm · 8/10 · 30 May 2005]

I could not disagree with those who are calling this movie boring more. Is it a perfect movie? No. But it is fun, fast-paced, and highly entertaining. A theater full of children laughed almost non-stop, and even my husband (who honestly wanted to see the latest "Star Wars" movie) grudgingly admitted it was pretty good.

The plot is basic: four animals must try to survive in the wild, and along the way learn more about themselves. But the visuals are hilarious, the music is fun, and the interludes with the psychotic penguins? Priceless.

The only part of this movie I disliked was the casting of David Schwimmer. Although he did a fine job, the entire time I felt distracted by his voice- I was reminded too much of his Ross character from "Friends." So, don't go expecting an Oscar-worthy film, or even the next "Shrek." Instead, go to enjoy a piece of indulgent yet funny animation that will keep you laughing.

Enjoyable family fun

[Majikat76 · 7/10 · 13 May 2018]

Family fun with some great characters and personalities.

Very funny

[larimeramy · 8/10 · 13 June 2005]

I took my 8 yr old daughter and a friend of hers to see the movie last weekend. We had a blast. The humor is one of Dreamworks best. It was sutle enough on some of the jokes that the younger kids did not catch on but you could hear the adults chuckling.

My personal favorite was Melmen. He was very funny and I think that everyone can relate to knowing someone like that. (Sick all the time)

I would not recommend kids under the age of 6 to see it though. Their where quite a few little ones in the theater and all you heard was "what are they doing now? Why are people laughing?" etc.

A lot of fun and a lot of laughs. We will definitely own this when it comes out on DVD.

Great adventure and fun for all

[Luigi Di Pilla · 7/10 · 29 December 2005]

MADAGASCAR is full of good jokes and adventure for all the family. This is a real fun and worth a watch because after NEMO FINDING this is another well told story. The animation therefore was not so perfect as in NEMO. Anyway, this is one for laughing and even my little son wanted to see and see it again on DVD. I liked especially the city and ship scene but I don't tell you more. These kind of movies are in my opinion better than the SHREK series where I cannot imagine something concrete. I have to admit that I hesitated to see it because I liked till now more the traditional cartoons than the last technology revolution. But after I have heard from my friends and family members I changed my mind. Now go, see and enjoy it. Vote: a solid 7,5/10.

Cute Movie

[mirosuionitsaki2 · 8/10 · 23 July 2007]

Okay, I don't really like Dreamworks because their movies usually try to fit in with the teens and be cool. Example, the hippo. But I still thought this movie was cute and slightly funny.

The giraffe or zebra, I don't remember tries to escape the zoo. Everyone gets stranded on an island and they try to escape the island! Then a ship comes in with the penguins to try to rescue them. In the end, they find out it was out of fuel.

I didn't remember much of the movie since I saw this about a month before Hurricane Katrina, but I still remember that this movie was cute and appropriate for all ages! I recommend this movie for everyone!

Hoping to do better

[e-67102-48412 · 7/10 · 7 April 2020]

It is not a new model for children's animation, and the film not only does not reach the height of the Ice Age, but also the story is not good enough. The affirmation of freedom is not something that children can understand. The control of friendship is only usual and it is difficult to find an impressive place. But this is a "fairy country" created for children, as long as they don't mind. Why should we struggle?

Kids beware.

[ilikepuppies · 2/10 · 15 January 2006]

I take a vested interest in what we feed our children's minds. They deserve to be challenged to think. They need abstraction. Levels of thought. Something to exercise their brains and help cultivate their own senses of creativity. That said, Dreamworks should be ashamed of marketing this dreck to children.

The whole world knows by now that if one has the 80 million dollars worth of backing, he can produce any half-presentable CGI animated feature, aim it at children and produce a profit of at least 5 times the investment, apparently even if the film is laced with primarily adult content, as displayed in this film. (How many 8-year-olds had a clue what the 'American Beauty' sequence was all about?)

The Dreamworks formula is a simple, 2-faceted approach. First (and foremost), adults first. More energy is spent in attempt to entertain the 30-something demographic than any other. That way, parents are more willing to accompany the kids into the theater, doubling ticket sales. After all, the ultimate choice whether anyone will see the film lies with the parents. That's why these things are packed with campy disco hits and references to old films and TV shows, none of which the kids have a clue about.

Second, inject just enough vacuous slapstick and physical comedy to appease the kids. It only takes a few laughs to make a child expect the DVD upon release.

Oh, and if you have time, slap in any old excuse for a moral, in this case the thin statement about not giving up on friends.

That's all there is to this, folks. Another Shrek, just a lazier version. Downright insulting to a child.

Look no further than this observation: There is a scene in which the film's main characters gaze at the heavens, aghast of the universe's limitless possibilities. Oddly, this very film seems oblivious to that notion.

Dreamworks can't escape from their zoo.