Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video and BINGE, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Ben Stiller sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Start it on Amazon Prime Video whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted keeps coming up in conversation. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted from the crowd. Animal pals Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria are still trying to make it back to New York's Central Park Zoo. They are forced to take a detour to Europe to find the penguins and chimps who broke the bank at a Monte Carlo casino. When French animal-control officer Capitaine Chantel DuBois picks up their scent, Alex and company are forced to hide out in a traveling circus. Between them, Ben Stiller and Chris Rock carry the comedy without ever forcing it. It hit screens in 2012. Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted respects your intelligence. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Ben Stiller sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.