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'Madagascar': Pampered zoo animals walk on the wild side

Like chimpanzees at the zoo, DreamWorks Animation apes rival studio Pixar with Madagascar.

Pixar's acclaimed computer-animated films, which include Toy Story, Finding Nemo and The Incredibles, have enchanted audiences not only with their dazzling visuals, but also by focusing on story and character. In contrast, DreamWorks 'toons from the highly successful Shrek 2 to the disappointing Shark Tale have relied more heavily on gags and pop-culture references.

Dreamworks SKG 'Madagascar' B Directors: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath Starring: Andy Richter, Cedric the Entertainer, Sacha Baron Cohen, Chris Knights, Tom McGrath Run time: 80 minutes Release date: May 27, 2005 Rating: PG for mild language, crude humor and some thematic elements. See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate "Madagascar"   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

Playing "Monkey See, Monkey Do" pays off fairly well for Madagascar. The computer-animated family comedy is as much about character as it is about laughs.

The characters in question are pampered Central Park Zoo animals who find themselves far removed from their element when they are stranded on an exotic island after an ill-advised escape attempt.

The funny, sharply written film recalls Seinfeld, given its quirky quartet of New York City types, which includes best pals Alex the Lion (the voice of Ben Stiller) and Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), along with neurotic Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer) and level-headed Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith). Creative consultant Peter Mehlman, for whom the giraffe is named, was a writer and co-executive producer for the classic sitcom.

Celebrating his 10th birthday, Marty longs to experience life outside of captivity. He gets his wish after a dash for the "wide-open spaces" of Connecticut.

Shipped off to Africa, the four friends instead find themselves marooned on Madagascar, an island populated by cute, comical lemurs. They also find themselves unsuited for life in the "wild."

Madagascar's plot is a bit thin, but the film makes up for it with lively humor and stylized visuals.

A stroll through the jungle turns into a harsh, yet hilarious, lesson in the food chain. Alex and Marty also experience this first-hand when the lion starts reverting to his natural state, wherein zebras are prey — not pals.

The biggest laughs are provided by the supporting characters, who include a trio of lemurs voiced by Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer and Andy Richter. There's also a band of "psychotic" penguins and a pair of pseudo-intellectual chimps.

It is a DreamWorks film, so there are occasional send-ups of other movies, including Saturday Night Fever, Planet of the Apes and, naturally, Cast Away. But it's not like you can expect a zebra to entirely change its stripes.