Smile and Wave Boys: Skipper (above) is the leader of a penguin commando unit in “Penguins of Madagascar.” The hilarious film contains frequent and silly side stories that are pulled off by the film’s charismatic cast.
By Riaz Mamdani
Staff Writer
After stealing the show in Dreamworks’ “Madagascar” franchise, the series’ four infamous penguins show that they are still “flipping” hilarious in “Penguins of Madagascar.”
Directed by Eric Darnell, “Penguins” instantly excites with a fast-paced, yet focused plot. Better yet, the film sports a varied tone in addition to a skilled voice cast and a clear animation.
“Penguins,” an animated film about a quartet of commando penguins, begins when Skipper (Tom McGrath), Kowalski (Chris Miller) and Rico (Conrad Vernon) discover the newest addition to their penguin crew: Private (Christopher Knights). Together, the “elite unit” embarks on a quest to save penguin-kind from the evil vindictive octopus villain, Dave (John Malkovich), who has been abducting penguins from around the world.
Much of the film’s success can be credited to the writing. The simple, straightforward screenplay should be appreciated as it allows for Darnell to direct the film into random yet humorous tangents, like Kowalski falling in love with a mysterious and aggressive owl. Although these tangents serve no significant purpose to the main plot progression, they ultimately add humor to the film without ever convoluting it.
The screenplay is coupled with the film’s talented cast of voice actors. The actors show clear emotion and authenticity in their roles, giving each animal a distinctive personality, adding to the film’s reoccurring jokes.
While the movie may seem childish, as it is mainly about silly animated penguins, there is also a slight indication of a darker tone. This tone is seen through a rather gruesome early scene in which a leopard seal viciously eats a seagull. This surprising addition gives the film its somewhat mature tone, making it more palatable for older viewers.
Although the film is fast-paced and action-packed, its animation remains top-notch throughout the film. With clear high definition resolution, the scenes are sharp, giving the film’s animation an almost tangible aesthetic, resulting in a sharp and quick film that is always visually appealing.
Conclusively, “Penguins” is a major success, with its easy-to-follow story line, quality acting and clear visuals, all of which are complemented by a surprisingly varied tone. As a result, “Penguins” lands as one of Dreamworks’ best movies in years.
“Penguins” is rated PG and is playing in theaters nationwide.
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