---
title: "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa"
year: 2008
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/madagascar-escape-2-africa"
fi1m_id: "madagascar-escape-2-africa"
imdb_id: "tt0479952"
tmdb_id: 10527
wikidata_id: "Q188474"
fi1m_score: 62
critics_score: 56
critics_reviews: 12
published: "2026-10-05T05:33:45.893596+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-05T05:34:15.496428+00:00"
region: "PE"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)

Directed by Tom McGrath, Eric Darnell · 1h 29m · Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family

## Identity

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/madagascar-escape-2-africa
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** madagascar-escape-2-africa
- **IMDb ID:** tt0479952
- **TMDB ID:** 10527
- **Wikidata ID:** Q188474
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479952/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/10527, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q188474

**Fi1m score: 62** · Critics 56 from 12 reviews

*In a sentence:* We would happily watch the penguins fill in the insurance forms for that plane

> The penguins give this uneven family sequel its funniest moments, especially when entrusted with a plane. The crowded story is less rewarding, but there are enough jokes to make its 89 minutes pass pleasantly.

## Synopsis

Alex (Ben Stiller), Marty (Chris Rock), Melman (David Schwimmer) and Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) put their travel plans in the hands of penguins, whose attempt to fly a plane ends in a crash. The group’s concerns soon extend beyond getting from one place to another. Family loyalties and rivalries compete for attention with romantic attachments and questions about fitting in among the zebras. Julien (Sacha Baron Cohen) adds his own distractions. The animals have to contend with one another’s appetites and expectations as their interrupted journey becomes more complicated.

## Review

*Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa* is a decent family comedy whose crowded story keeps getting in the way of its jokes. Directors Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath have a knack for finding something funny for an animal to do, particularly if that animal is a penguin. The trouble comes when the film asks us to take everyone’s personal difficulties seriously. There are enough good gags to make it a reasonable choice for children, though adults sharing the sofa may grow impatient with another round of family bonding.

The penguin-manned plane crash shows how well the physical comedy can work. We laughed at it, because putting these birds in charge makes the whole business absurd before the disaster even needs to happen. The pleasure comes from watching a practical task entrusted to creatures whose confidence makes even the simplest precautions seem like somebody else’s problem. Editors Mark A. Hester and H. Lee Peterson give the sequence the briskness it needs, allowing the calamity to build without labouring the joke. The film establishes an appetite for this sort of nonsense that its busier stretches struggle to satisfy.

The screenplay, credited to Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath and Etan Cohen, has family loyalties, rivalry and romance to accommodate. Animal appetites and attraction are promising subjects, and the film deserves some credit for allowing its creatures concerns beyond simply being nice to one another. But the familiar family material keeps interrupting the silliness without becoming compelling enough to justify the interruption. For this familiar material to matter, we need a little more time with each relationship before the next comic distraction arrives and attention shifts again. The rivalry invites comparison with *The Lion King*, and the writing gives us little reason to become invested in another version of those troubles.

Ben Stiller’s Alex, Chris Rock’s Marty, David Schwimmer’s Melman and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Gloria make an amiable central group. The zebra gag gives Chris Rock a welcome opportunity, though the number of separate concerns leaves the performers little space to develop an exchange. Sacha Baron Cohen’s Julien benefits from the stranger comedy allowed around the supporting characters. There is a frustrating shortage of room for the penguins and lemurs, considering how readily they can improve a scene.

Kendal Cronkhite’s production design helps keep the crowded animation lively and legible. Even with penguins, lemurs and zebras competing for attention, a visual joke remains easy to follow. The broad animal comedy benefits from that clarity, and there is enough energy in the images to sustain stretches where the writing repeats itself. There is still a limit to how much that clear staging can do when several characters are waiting for their own small emotional crisis to be resolved. We can enjoy watching these creatures without needing every one of them to have a subplot.

Hans Zimmer supplies the music, while the goofy pop-song choices make a particularly useful contribution to the comedy. Their cheerful lack of restraint suits the film, which is generally more comfortable being daft than being earnest. The broad humour also avoids treating children as an audience that needs everything explained twice. Familiarity is not fatal to a family comedy when the individual jokes are given this much enthusiasm.

We would choose it for children who enjoy unruly animals and adults willing to accept a patchy story in exchange for some good physical comedy. At 89 minutes, it does not make an unreasonable claim on the evening. Just expect to spend some of that time waiting for the penguins to come back.

*Fi1m score 62, published 5 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews lean towards a mixed assessment of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, with praise clustering around the supporting characters rather than the story. The penguins repeatedly emerge as a source of laughs, while the broader visual and verbal comedy earns qualified approval. Animation is another modest strength, described as lively or skilfully handled rather than innovative. Even several critics with reservations find the sequel endearing or pleasant enough to entertain children.

The main complaints concern a thin, overcrowded story, familiar family tensions and an uncertain balance between sentiment and parody. Critics differ sharply on whether the gags compensate: Eye for Film enjoys the rush of jokes, while The Guardian finds the sequel disappointing and its plot derivative of The Lion King. The spread is substantial, though mixed notices outnumber either positive or negative ones. The recurring reservation is that appealing comic characters have too little room in a less rewarding central story.

## Straight answers

**Is Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa worth watching?**

*Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa* is a decent, uneven choice for children who enjoy unruly animals and adults content with scattered good jokes; we score it 62 out of 100. The penguins supply the funniest physical comedy, especially with a plane in their charge, but the crowded family and romantic subplots keep interrupting the fun.

**How long is Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, and what is it rated?**

*Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa* runs 1h 29m. It is an adventure and animation film.

**Where can I watch Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa in Peru?**

*Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa* is streaming on Disney+ in Peru. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**What should I watch after Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa?**

After *Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa*, try [*The Emperor's New Groove*](https://film.one/film/the-emperors-new-groove) (2000, Fi1m 80): An animal transformation comedy that gives its supporting eccentrics room to misbehave. Then [*Chicken Run*](https://film.one/film/chicken-run) (2000, Fi1m 84): More birds with elaborate plans, and a story that earns its suspense; and [*Ernest & Celestine*](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine) (2012, Fi1m 84): A gentler animal friendship, with fewer distractions and more feeling between the jokes.

### Reviews we read (12)

- **Evening Standard**, The Standard (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film tame compared with Ben Stiller’s other mainstream projects, but says it never talks down to its audience. They single out its treatment of animal appetites and inter-species romance as interesting. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/escape-2-africa-is-ready-for-roaring-success-7411572.html)
- **Screen Daily**, John Hazelton (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a review, but the critic’s assessment is unavailable in the visible text. No specific praise or criticism can be verified from the accessible material. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/madagascar-escape-2-africa/4041720.article)
- **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (64/100, inferred): The review’s verdict and its specific praise or criticism cannot be verified from the accessible page. The page displays only an instruction to enable JavaScript and disable ad blocking. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/movies/07mada.html)
- **Slant Magazine**, Nick Schager (2.5/4): Schager finds the sequel overstuffed and uneven, but still endearing. He praises its vibrant animation and innocuously rollicking comedy. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/madagascar-escape-2-africa/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Kirk Honeycutt (60/100, inferred): Honeycutt finds the sequel pleasant and entertaining for children, though far from pioneering and somewhat forgettable. He singles out its serviceable, skillful animation and goofy use of pop songs as modest strengths. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/madagascar-escape-2-africa-125080/)
- **Time Out**, Derek Adams (3/5): The critic says the sequel is better than the original, but only marginally. The review singles out that slight improvement as its main distinction. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/madagascar-escape-2-africa)
- **Empire**, Ian Nathan (55/100, inferred): Nathan finds the sequel pleasing but diminished, with its script struggling to balance sentiment and parody. He praises the penguin-manned plane crash and zebra-mentality gag, but complains that overcrowding leaves too little room for the penguins and lemurs. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/madagascar-escape-2-africa-review/)
- **Radio Times**, Dave Aldridge (2/5): A promising opening gives way to a sequel that runs out of gas. The review praises the scene-stealing penguins but criticizes the story’s tired family-bonding and rivalry themes. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-y2qy0z/madagascar-escape-2-africa/)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (25/100, inferred): Bradshaw finds the sequel frankly disappointing and opportunistic. He criticizes its thin plot for shamelessly copying The Lion King. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/dec/05/review-madagascar-escape-2-africa)
- **Eye for Film**, Tony Sullivan (75/100, inferred): Sullivan had a thoroughly good time and finds the film an entertaining rush of visual and verbal gags. He especially praises the penguins, who steal every scene they appear in. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/madagascar-escape-2-africa-film-review-by-tony-sullivan)
- **Paste**, Josh Jackson (70/100, inferred): Jackson finds the film fun, though its story is thin and not particularly rich. He singles out the quirky secondary characters, especially the penguins, as a source of its humor and appeal. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/ben-stiller/madagascar-2-escape-2-africa)
- **Digital Spy**, Alex Fletcher (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel merely adequate, faulting its weak story, slapdash script, and lack of laughs. They praise the surreal scenes led by King Julien and the penguins as the film’s highlights. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a136767/madagascar-escape-2-africa/)

## Details

- **Director:** Tom McGrath, Eric Darnell
- **Director:** Tom McGrath, Eric Darnell
- **Writer:** Etan Cohen, Tom McGrath, Eric Darnell
- **Editor:** H. Lee Peterson, Mark A. Hester
- **Music:** Hans Zimmer
- **Production design:** Kendal Cronkhite
- **Producer:** Mireille Soria, Mark Swift
- **Cast:** Ben Stiller as Alex (voice); Chris Rock as Marty / Additional Zebras (voice); David Schwimmer as Melman (voice); Jada Pinkett Smith as Gloria (voice); Sacha Baron Cohen as Julien (voice); Cedric the Entertainer as Maurice (voice); Andy Richter as Mort (voice); Bernie Mac as Zuba (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 29m
- **Release (Peru):** 4 December 2008
- **Genres:** Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family
- **Budget:** $150 million
- **Box office:** $604 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLVjIhPYq7s

## Where to watch in Peru

- Disney+: streaming, hd

*Checked 2026-10-05.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie 2009: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie (won)
- Critics' Choice Awards 2008: Best Animated Feature (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *The Emperor's New Groove* (2000), Fi1m 80: An animal transformation comedy that gives its supporting eccentrics room to misbehave. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-emperors-new-groove.md)
- *A Town Called Panic* (2009): For anyone who wishes the penguins had made the entire film.
- *Chicken Run* (2000), Fi1m 84: More birds with elaborate plans, and a story that earns its suspense. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/chicken-run.md)
- *The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!* (2012): A hopeless crew and busy visual jokes, with a more coherent story.
- *Ernest & Celestine* (2012), Fi1m 84: A gentler animal friendship, with fewer distractions and more feeling between the jokes. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/madagascar-escape-2-africa