Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer), and Gloria the Hippopotamus (Jada Pinkett Smith) are all back for the third chapter of Madagascar. While residing in Africa in between the second and third flick, these zoo animals learned many very impressive new tricks (trapeze anyone?). This flick was far more colorful and compelling than three Cirque Du Soleil shows combined.

Alex and the gang are still trying to get back to their beloved New York City. They realize the only way they can make it to the “concrete jungle” is by relying on the mechanical competence of the chimpanzees and penguins. They have to follow these adventure-seeking chimps and penguins that deserted them in Africa for the luxuries and extravagance of Monte Carlo.

Who would have thought wild animals and gambling in Monte Carlo wouldn’t mix? Not Captain Chantel DuBois (Frances McDormand). The leader (who is also evidently immortal) of animal control in Europe catches “scent” of the zoo animals’ arrival and goes to great lengths to try and capture them. In order for the friendliest lion, zebra, giraffe and hippo to escape her evil grasp (seriously, this woman will give some little children nightmares), they join a traveling circus that ironically has plans to make the trek to New York City after first stopping in a few other European cities. It’s not as simple as that though, for this circus seems to have lost its luster, and it’s up to Alex and the crew to get them back on… the tight rope!

This movie is quite frankly as wild as the animals in Africa, and the fact that it’s in 3D only makes it more so. From Africa to Europe to New York City, these animals have more stamps on their passports than half the U.S. population, yet you’re never too sure how they get from point A to point B. The movie may mention it, but you’ll be far too captivated with the amount of flying animals on the screen to notice.

Obviously this is an animated film so directors Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath and Conrad Vernon do have the leeway of creating a rather improbable plot, but little children may too realize that giraffes and hippopotamuses cannot defy gravity and balance on a tightrope 50 feet (or more) above the ground.

Despite all of the extremely unrealistic components of this movie (did I mentioned Chantel DuBois seems to be immortal?) it was an entertaining film with multiple educational messages that children can certainly learn from, camaraderie and solidarity being the most obvious. But the next time you take your children (or even yourself) to the zoo or circus, they (you) may very well be disappointed because there won’t be any bears riding on Ducati motorcycles or tigers jumping through engagement ring-sized hoops.

If you’ve seen the first two movies and adored them, it’s definitely worth your time to check out Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted. You will also want to check out Madagascar 4, which is probably in preproduction right now because the way Madagascar 3 ended left the door wide open for Mark Burton and the rest of the writing crew to get down to some untamed business!