The zany Zoosters

In the third instalment of the billion-dollar Madagascar franchise, Alex (Ben Stiller), Marty (Chris Rock), Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Melman (David Schwimmer) are determined to make their way back to The Central Park Zoo in New York City. Leaving Africa behind, they've taken a detour and surfaced, quite literally, in Europe - on a hunt for the penguins and chimps who have managed to break the bank of a Monte Carlo casino. Soon the animals are discovered by dogged French animal control officer Capitaine Chantel DuBois (Frances McDormand) who does not appreciate zoo animals running wild in her city and is thrilled by the idea of hunting her first lion! The Zoosters find the perfect cover in a down-and-out travelling circus, where they hatch a plan to reinvent the circus, discover a few new talents and make it home to New York alive.

Death-defying tricks

For the first time in 3D, the Zoosters of Madagascar are on the run, hiding out with the circus, doing death-defying tricks and making new friends.

The film is directed with flair and imagination by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, helmers of the franchise's the first two instalments, which earned more than USD1 billion at the box office, and are joined this time round by director Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2, Monsters vs Aliens). The crackling-and-spicy screenplay is written by Eric Darnell and Noah Baumbach (Fantastic Mr Fox, Greenberg).

The singular vision of the creative team tells a vibrant story that has heart as well as humour, of animals that come together to become greater than they ever thought they could be.

Madagascar would not be the same without those darn penguins. After many precarious escapades in the previous instalments, the penguins are having the time of their lives in the Monte Carlo Casino, where they plan to spend a gambling holiday and turn heaven into hell.

But the Zoosters always know better and when they launch "Operation Penguin Extraction", it's fun and laughs all the way.

Vibrant and thrilling sequence

In a world where makeovers are fashionable, the Zoosters reinvent themselves as circus animals when they join Circus Zaragoza. The filmmakers pull out all the stops with the vibrant and thrilling "Good Circus" sequence, in which all the animals' hard work blossoms in front of an appreciative London audience , showing off the filmmakers' creativity and the power of 3D to spectacular effect.

It's a circus unlike anything you have ever seen before, not only showing off the imagination of the storytellers and story makers, but also using animation in a unique way. It's a glorious sequence, filled with cross dissolves and slow motion and fades and doing things that are literally impossible to do right in front of your eyes. It showcases the circus animals and Zoosters in kaleidoscope fashion, spinning, leaping and flying through the air with joyful abandon.

After three films and three continents, the Madagascar Zoosters still find a way to have the most fun and go on the wildest adventures imaginable. Being chased across Europe and hiding in the circus presents a fresh new way to see characters that audiences already love.

If you are looking for fun to share with friends and family, and anyone looking for escapism, which offers first-rate entertainment, the Zoosters are definitely it.

Win a Madagascar watch

You can also be the proud owner of a vibrant Madagascar watch and wristband to bring out the Zooster in you. Enter the competition at www.writingstudio.co.za/page2237.html

Behind the scenes

Conrad Vernon believes that it's the Zoosters' resourcefulness that is appealing: "They've always been adept at getting out of sticky situations to great comic effect, but never more so than in this film, where their lives are in danger and they're forced to hide with the circus. What takes it to a whole different level is how they make the best of their situation, not only making new friends and discovering new talents but, ultimately, using their circumstances to get them home. That's resourcefulness if I ever saw it. They learn some things about themselves, too - that it's not necessarily a place that makes life worth living, but rather it's the people in their lives that make it worth living."

Chris Rock enjoys the humour of the series: "Audiences respond to the comedy. They're really into the camaraderie of the characters and they love new characters that are introduced. I remember in the last one, my kids loved Will.i.Am's character, a hippo named Moto Moto. Madagascar has not let you down. It's a brand you can count on. It's like McDonalds, like you know? You got a fish fillet - you know fish fillet is going to be pretty decent. And the fish fillet you get in Brooklyn is the same fish fillet you're going to get in Kentucky. You can count on it. And that's Madagascar. It's like a fish fillet. Number 12 in most cities."

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