RECOMMENDED
A denizen of the Central Park Zoo escaped to visit exotic Connecticut, but only got as far as Grand Central Station before he and his pursuing zoo pals were captured. Sent back to their African birthplace, these New Yorkers got stranded on the title island in 2005’s animated feature “Madagascar.” Co-directors Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, and their co-writer Etan Cohen, deliver an entertaining episode in the further adventures of a lion (voiced by Ben Stiller), a zebra (Chris Rock), a giraffe (David Schwimmer) and a hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith). Penguins, lemurs and chimps are the critter equivalents of character actors, sidekicks, second bananas and all-around scene-stealers. The quartet takes off from Madagascar and soon crashes land on a savannah where they find vast populations of their own kinds. This raises issues of individualism for one-of-a-kinders homesick for the accolades of their human visitors back in New York City. Cue music from “Born Free” and quips about Alex Haley’s “Roots.” Thanks to some thirty million render hours, the foursome keep busy with a lively plot set in a wonderfully detailed Africa. Another band of New Yorkers—a bunch of ambushed tourists on a SUV safari—find themselves just as lost and just as resourceful for surviving the wilds of Africa. There’s the usual affirming of family values, following one’s true path, and standing by your friends. The inventive design and warm crossover humor should make this a pleasant chore for older siblings, caretakers and parents taking the core audience to the theater. With Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric The Entertainer, Andy Richter, Bernie Mac, Sherri Shepherd, Alec Baldwin and will.i.am. 89m. (Bill Stamets)
