More Than a Cash Grab

Penguins of Madagascar unleashes sidekicks for fun and sometimes terrifying sequel

For years, the comedy sidekicks in animated films were just that: funny diversions in movies that focused on other characters. But sensing an opportunity to wring even more money out of their franchises, the makers of series like Madagascar and Despicable Me are determined to give those sidekicks the spotlight.

First out of the gate is Penguins of Madagascar, granting four mischief-loving penguins from the Central Park Zoo the ability to unleash mayhem around the world. The very loose plot of the film finds the foursome at odds with Dave (John Malkovich), an octopus out for revenge after being shuttled from zoo to zoo when he can’t compete with penguins for people’s attention.

The film isn’t one big romp. Dave’s (John Malkovich) plot and its effects are legitimately terrifying, and even the avalanche of jokes can’t hide its scares.

His plot is to kidnap all penguins and use a poison serum to turn them into hideous monsters. The four penguins unwittingly team up with a group called North Wind, led by wolf Classified (Benedict Cumberbatch), to try to thwart Dave’s evil plans.

What made the penguins such fun in the three previous Madagascar movies is their go-for-broke attitude, no matter what the situation. The expanded version does lose some of its effectiveness because their antics are no longer a break in the action, but rather the action itself.

That’s not to say that it isn’t fun; it’s just a tad repetitive. Directors Eric Darnell and Simon J. Smith and their team of screenwriters do their best to keep things entertaining for both kids and adults. Younger viewers will love the goofiness the penguins constantly display, while parents will enjoy the semi-clever celebrity name-dropping via puns.

However, the film isn’t one big romp. Dave’s plot and its effects are legitimately terrifying, and even the avalanche of jokes can’t hide its scares. That may not be exactly what people were hoping for with a movie that’s ostensibly for kids, so parents should take heed before heading to the theater.

Still, Penguins of Madagascar has plenty of charm, which makes it feel a little more interesting than the cash grab that it really is. It has its fair share of fun moments, but don’t go in expecting much more than that.

The penguins in Penguins of Madagascar deem themselves to be a super spy team.

Penguins of Madagascar

Photo courtesy of DreamWorks Animation

The penguins in Penguins of Madagascar deem themselves to be a super spy team.

Movie Review

The Invite delivers smart, sexy laughs with an all-star cast

Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, and Edward Norton in The Invite

Photo courtesy of A24

Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, and Edward Norton in The Invite.

Once upon a time, well before scandal embroiled him, Woody Allen made great comedies aimed at adults. That type of film - which is different from the raunchy, R-rated comedies of the 21st century - has fallen out of favor in Hollywood, but as the new film The Invite proves, when done well it can be as funny as anything else out there.

Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde) are an unhappily married couple living in San Francisco. As we meet them, Joe has arrived home to Angela preparing for a visit from their upstairs neighbors, Hawk (Edward Norton) and Piña (Penélope Cruz), who have moved in relatively recently. Their impending arrival starts a new round of arguing between Joe and Angela, something they can barely contain once the other couple comes to their door.

What proceeds is a getting-to-know-you process that is mostly awkward as Joe and Angela continue sniping at each other while Hawk and Piña put in their two cents in a much calmer manner. A sticking point between the two couples - the loud sex Hawk and Piña have on an almost nightly basis - turns the film on its head with an unexpected invitation.

Directed by Wilde and written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, the film is a fast-paced chamber piece that takes place almost entirely in Joe and Angela’s apartment. Wilde, the writers, and the actors speed the story along not with action but through almost non-stop dialogue that often has the characters overlapping each other’s lines. The rapidity of the speech fuels the humor of the situation and establishes the differing personalities of each person.

Sex is very much top of mind for each of the characters for most of the film, but the filmmakers approach the topic in such a way that it never feels salacious. Each of the characters is a rational adult who can talk about sex in a mature manner while also acknowledging their unique feelings on the matter. And it’s the discoveries each of them makes along the way that brings about the most comedy.

But, like any comedy for adults, the film also has a dramatic tilt to it, and Wilde edges the story back-and-forth between the two tones extremely well. Joe and Angela fighting is played for laughs at times, but the sadness of their relationship comes through loud and clear. Hawk and Piña are much more intimate with each other, but the funniness of their openness is juxtaposed with a depth that arises through their conversations.

In the 2020s, Rogen has managed to make the transition from goofy stoner to stoner with real acting chops. In a stacked cast, he is the one who sells every moment the best. That’s not to say that Wilde, Norton, and Cruz don’t measure up, though; each of them inhabits their respective roles magnificently. The four actors play off each other as if they had been working together for years.

While The Invite will likely play better to those who have experience with long term relationships, its insights - and occasional bawdiness - make it a comedy that can be appreciated universally. With four actors at the top of their games and a razor-sharp script made even better by some well-done improv, it proves that you don’t need to go low to get great laughs.

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The Invite is now playing in theaters.

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