Going Wild
Madagascar
Review by Ross Anthony

What a joy. Just a fun good-hearted film. Aside from a soft start, I was giggling nearly the whole way to the end. The animation of the giraffe just kept busting my gut. It's as if the animators were so very curious with its shape, trying every which way to twist and turn and look at it just for the pure joy of it. The other animals are fun too, but that giraffe just takes the cake. And voiced very nicely, by the way, by David Schwimmer. Would have liked Owen Wilson and Chris Tucker for the leads though.

The colors are vibrant and juicy, the action well distributed, the pace clipping along with the excitement of animals in the wild. And a rich story line. Not just one, but many. You'll be compelled by the goal, complications and tickled by the dialogue.

Slow to start, slightly fishy ending -- otherwise, I haven't much negative to say about this film. It was a joy. I watched it on DVD months after its theatrical release and just three days after the 2005 Oscars. In my opinion, it's better than the five films nominated for best picture. Although, I've got one question. How is it that these animals can read English, but not speak it? Anyway, it's a cartoon -- they can get away with that sort of thing.

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  • Madagascar. Copyright © 2005.
  • Starring David Schwimmer, Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter. Directed by Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath. .
  • Directed by Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath.
  • Screenplay by Mark Burton & Billy Frolick and Eric Darnell & Tom McGrath.
  • Produced by Mireille Soria at DreamWorks/PDI.

Grade..........................A- (3/4)


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Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.


Last Modified: Saturday, 16-Sep-2006 08:03:00 PDT