Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) ****

Madagascar3Madagascar 3 enjoys a witty script by Eric Darnell and Noah Baumbach. Though some lines will completely fly over the head of the younger audience, it brings plenty of grins to the faces of their adult companionships. With that said, kids and young adults still enjoy plenty of action, laughs, and a plot that keeps in the tradition of the Madagascar franchise, possibly even improving some on its previous installment. The animation is fun and the voiceover talent flawless, with Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, and the other regulars joined by some new fresh characters. These include, but are not limited to, an always wonderful Frances McDormand as the vicious Captain Chantel DuBois, Bryan Cranston as Vitaly the Russian Tiger who lost his courage (a wink at The Wizard of Oz?) and Jessica Chastain as Gia the Jaguar. If you were looking for a decent animation flick to get your summer started with, this may as well be it.