A Must See

   We went to see "Madagascar" last night. If you're looking for a little island getaway for an hour or so, this is the movie for you. We both agreed it got off to a bit of a slow start, but once the action shifts to the island, the movie takes off. The scenes where hunger is looming larger and larger for the lion are some of the most interesting because of the question they raise. You find yourself really wondering about how the dilemma of what to nosh on will be solved for the mane-man, and hoping that it won't be some of his first tentative choices. The film treats the issue with humour, but underlying currents that the younger viewers won't pick up on may remind the older ones that it has been said, we're all never more than one night and two meals away from savagery.
   The characterizations provided by the various actors who voiced the animal stars are almost all a little less than attention grabbing. The one exception is the King of the island, voiced by Sacha Baron. Some of you may know him as "Borat". He brought the lemur-monarch to life in a way that made every other part in the film pale by comparison, but even he didn't equal the gold standard that has been set by Robin Williams with his genie in "Aladdin" or Eddie Murphy with his dragon in "Mulan", and his donkey in "Shrek". Melman the giraffe is the weakest of all, and adds very, very little to the fun, but the movie has its moments, nonetheless.
    If the price of a theatre outing figures heavily for you, you'd be better to wait 'til you can rent this family film on video and make your own popcorn at home. Otherwise, (with appropriate apologia to Neil Diamond):

"Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies,
'cause everyone knows and everyone goes to Madagascar!"