Rock steals the show as Marty in stellar 'Madagascar'

By Forrest Hartman
Reno Gazette Journal

The voices of David Schwimmer, Chris Rock, Ben Stiller and Jada Pinkett Smith give personality to some not-so-wild animals. DreamWorks Pictures MADAGASCAR Opens Friday, May 27 (Excellent)

This animated gem takes a classic fish-out-of-water premise and combines it with a commentary on the power of friendship, life's natural order and plain goofy fun.

The primary characters are four exotic animals that have spent their lives in New York's Central Park Zoo. Alex the lion (voiced by Ben Stiller) is the star of the place and perfectly happy in cushy, well-fed captivity. But his buddy Marty the zebra (Chris Rock) is convinced they're missing out.

One night, Marty escapes with help from some conniving penguins. When Alex discovers Marty's absence, he and friends Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer) mount a rescue mission that lands them on the wild island of Madagascar.

Suddenly bereft of the zoo's creature comforts, the foursome must band together and adapt to life in the wild. That is if they can forgive Marty for getting them into the predicament.

A supporting company that includes tea-sipping chimpanzees and hundreds of frenetic, disco-dancing lemurs bolsters the film's lead characters. It's like "Survivor" with talking animals, and it's awfully cute.

The voice cast is perfectly matched to its on-screen counterparts, and Rock (who also is starring in "The Longest Yard," which also is opening this weekend) is particularly stellar. As Marty, he hits one out of the park, building the type of presence Eddie Murphy gave Donkey in the "Shrek" films.

Filled with one-liners, in-jokes and the attention to detail reserved for only the best children's movies, "Madagascar" is a rare treat for the family. But it's also a technical departure from previously released computer generated projects. Directors Eric Darnell ("Antz") and Tom McGrath ("The Ren and Stimpy Show") wanted to blend the 3-D feel of computer-generated animation with the quaint charm of early cartoons. The resulting visuals aren't as realistic as in movies like "Toy Story" or "Shrek," but they're no less detailed. And they certainly are beautiful.

Of course, today's audiences have come to expect phenomenal-looking films. And frankly, good looks are easy to come by.

What's rare is a carefully crafted tale that moves with precision and grace, telling viewers what they need to know, yet refusing to bog down in detail. Darnell and McGrath understand that. And with "Madagascar," there are no wasted frames.

Rated PG for mild profanity, crudeness and some thematic elements.

Forrest Hartman is the film critic for the Reno Gazette Journal.