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PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR

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* * * ½

(Funny, action-packed cartoon feature)

They're back!

Kids have come to love those cuddly, wisecracking penguins from Madagascar, while their parents can sit through the silly action, thanks to some occasional adult-oriented humor (Drew, Barry...more power!). There's more, but we won't spoil it for you.

The movie opens with TV nature photographers following the plight of the penguins as they trudge across the frozen earth in one single line. An egg rolls past them, and our heroes break rank to save it.

The next sequence shows them chasing the egg around the earth in a helter-skelter chase that the kids will love, even though there is no rhyme or reason to their travels and landings.

Switch to 10 years later. The egg has hatched and Private the penguin has grown to join the team as they fight the evil Dave, a purple octopus that is out to eliminate all the penguins...for whatever reason.

There's a running joke about their love for Cheezy Dibbles, which leave orange stains on their white coats. Frito-Lay's Cheetos must love this one.

They travel through Venice, Shanghai, Rio and other exotic places, blending into the culture while continuing the chase. Dave has developed a nasty Medusa serum to destroy all the penguins he has captured, but our brave penguins have joined with the North Wind (a team made up of a bear, a wolf, an owl and a seal) to defeat the octopus gang. John Malkovich is the voice of Dave. It gets pretty silly at the end, but hey, that's what the kids like.

Be patient, it's only an hour and a half long, and there are enough puns to sustain you. Rated PG, with nothing to worry about.

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