Movie Review: Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Overview

As we begin the movie our heroes (Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria) are stuck in Africa and how will they ever escape? As we have learned with all the other Madagascar films and most other animated adventures the normal rules of life do not apply. So obviously they get away and are after those mischievous penguins. So they are off to save the penguins and then somehow get back to New York.

But their adventure proves to me a bit more complicated especially since the villainous animal control agent, Captain Chantel DuBois is hot on their trail and she has never lost a case. On top of that their plane built the monkeys under the direction of the penguin's crashes and burns. What will they do?

In order to save themselves from the villainous DuBois, they join a team of circus animals lead by the macho Russian tiger Vitaly. The circus is traveling across Europe eventually to end up in New York, hopefully. As our team of heroes soon find out they have lost their passion and their love for the act. So the circus is in shambles and our team of heroes have to find a way to help them get their passion back so the circus can be a success again and get to them back to New York. In the middle of all of this, the top trio of circus animals (Vitaly, Stephano, and Gia) learn from Alex that they can still do the impossible if they will only believe. This reality leads to Vitaly getting back his passion and getting the circus it's much needed jump start back to fame.

So they finally make it to New York City but our zoosters are not circus animals and even though they pulled the wool over everyone's eyes with their made up tricks they really don't know what they are doing. At the worst possible time they finally get caught by DuBois. So our heroes are back to the zoo again but no one is happy because they realize the zoo life wasn't as good as they remember it being. They decide their only place to be is with their new circus family.

They realize what they have done and that they need to go apologize and make things right. At the same time our circus trio realizes that they need each other and so through their passion they come up with an extravagant escape and rescue plan. Because the good guys always win the rescue is a success and the circus is united and the team realizes that they truly belong with the circus and so their dream of freedom is finally realized and their passion is back. In the end the villainous Captain DuBois gets exactly what is coming to her.

Concerns  

Remember those mischevious penguins, well they team up with the monkeys to go to Monte Carlo and then the gambling is on. Plus a lot of property destruction insues. This all takes place at the beginning of the movie and then there is no more gambling.

There is an obvious attraction between Alex and Gia but there was never any physical touching or kissing.

In one scene Vitaly does say a word that leads you to believe that he is going to say Bull**** but says a Russian word that sounds eerily similar.

Overall, Madagascar 3 is entertaining for the whole family with its dry and physical slap stick humor. Plus it has a very fun use of contemporary and vintage music.

Teachable Themes

• We can truly do the impossible if we believe and fully trust in God
In the movie, the circus has lost their passion and are not willing to believe in themselves anymore until our heroes show up on the scene. Somehow through their zany zooster antics they remind Vitaly and all the other circus animals of the basics of why they do what they do and that brings them back to their love for the act and more importantly their passion to believe in themselves returns.


• When we show determination, this can help us to accomplish the task at hand
Captain Dubois even though she is the villain in our film she shows a lot of determination. This determination is why she has never lost a case. Now even though she doesn't win in the end with our heroes I am sure because of her determination we will see her return in future episodes. I am also sure her determination will win her a lot more cases in the future.

Biblical References

• We can truly do the impossible if we believe and fully trust in God
  • Luke 1:37 – "Nothing is impossible with God." (NiRV)
  
  
  • Matthew 19:26 – Jesus looked at them and said, "With man, that is impossible. But with God, all things are possible." (NiRV)
  
  
  • Matthew 17:20-21 – He replied, "Because your faith is much to small. What I'm about to tell you is true. If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, it is enough. You can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there'. And it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (NiRV)
  
  
• When we show determination, this can help us to accomplish the task at hand
• Romans 15:4 – "Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us strength to go on. They cheer us up and give us hope." (NiRV)


• 2 Timothy 4:7 – "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith." (NiRV)
• Jeremiah 29:11 – " I know the plans I have for you." Announces the Lord. "I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for years to come."

Discussion Questions

1. We can truly do the impossible if we believe and fully trust in God
   1. What are some things in our own lives that we need to believe the impossible for?
   2. Can we do the impossible by ourselves or do we have to trust in God? And Why?
   3. When we trust in God for the impossible, how much faith do we need to have?


2. When we show determination, this can help us to accomplish the task at hand.
   1. How can we show determination in our everyday lives?
   2. What do you think it means to be determined?
   3. If God has great plans for us and gives us a hope for years to come, why do sometimes know matter how determined we are our plans not work out? If that is so does God still want us to be determined and why?