Madagascar

Madagascar is too typically Dreamworks animation. Full of pop culture references in lieu of humor. Sure, it looks ok, even good at some times, but Dreamworks hasn't figured out what Pixar does perfectly. Although I haven't seen Cars, so maybe that's just as bad as it looks. Why exactly did I watch this? I like penguins and I read the penguins were good. Unfortunately, the penguins weren't in enough of the movie, and I had to sit through the annoyance of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith, and David Schwimmer. And it's also too bad that Sascha Baron Cohen and Andy Richter have little to work with. Such a stupid movie. Why are Dreamworks animation movies so insistent on being so "likable" rather than being good? Trying to add things for the parents watching by adding in a nod and a wink to a movie doesn't substitute for a good story, likable characters, impressive animation, and heart. Things this movie is sorely lacking. It does have monkeys who like to throw poo, but they're also sorely lacking in both lines and screen time.