Madagascar 3
Europe’s Most Wanted
Alex the lion (voiced by Ben Stiller) and his zebra (Chris Rock), hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) and giraffe (David Schwimmer) pals are still trying to get home to New York, this time joining a circus and being chased across Europe by a Javert-like cop (Frances McDormand). Is this the worst animated-feature franchise of all time, or is it Ice Age? I guess it’s whichever you’ve seen most recently (Ice Age 4 is coming next month; oh joy). Anyhow, this one was rotten in 2005 and 2008, and by now it’s really beginning to stink. Directors Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath and Conrad Vernon give us more of the same nonstory, the same noncharacters to go with the star voices (including Sacha Baron Cohen, Martin Short and Jessica Chastain), the same frantic ingenuity untainted by wit or inspiration. And now it’s in 3-D.
More Film » Short Reviews
Snow White and the Huntsman
For the second time this year, we get a revision of the Brothers Grimm tale of the conflict between Snow White (Kristen Stewart, dull and lifeless as ever) and her wicked stepmother.
Published on 06.07.12
For Greater Glory
Mexico’s Cristero War forms the spine of this movie from writer Michael Love and director Dean Wright.
Published on 06.07.12
Men in Black 3
Better than the original? It’s a close call, but Josh Brolin guarantees that three is better than two, at the very least.
Published on 05.31.12
Darling Companion
A lost dog exposes the hitherto ignored cracks in the comfortable marriage of a self-absorbed surgeon (Kevin Kline) and his over-emotional wife (Diane Keaton).
Published on 05.24.12