Families flock to ‘Madagascar’

The DreamWorks team did its marketing homework on “Madagascar.” The

Saturday night showing I attended was sold out to an audience

consisting mostly of kids under 12 years of age. They seemed electric

with anticipation, as they awaited Hollywood’s latest big budget

animated feature.

The movie they saw is a family-friendly comedy that draws its

humor from the premise of many “Far Side” comic strips. Animals are

given human characteristics and placed in situations familiar to all

of us. They respond to these human predicaments, while maintaining

their animal natures. Their reactions to these circumstances and the

witty verbal comments they make along the way provide the laughs that

drive this formula film to its inevitable conclusion.

The plot centers on a lion, zebra, hippo and giraffe, all of whom

are leading the good life in New York’s Central Park Zoo. A band of

military-minded penguins engineers a breakout from the zoo. Their

efforts end up with all the main characters shipwrecked in the

jungles of Madagascar. Adventures ensue that lead to stark

comparisons between the animals’ harsh life in the wild and their

comfortable existence at the zoo.

This film is an amusing diversion, but it offers more for the kids

than it does for the adults. It clearly aspires to be in the same

category as “Shrek” and “Finding Nemo,” but falls a little short.

It’s good but not great, as it keeps the kids very well amused while

the parents are grateful for its rapid 80-minute running time.

* JOHN DEPKO is a Costa Mesa resident and a senior investigator

for the Orange County public defender’s office.

‘MAD HOT BALLROOM’

PRODUCES DANCE FEVER

“Mad Hot Ballroom” is a delightful documentary about fifth-graders

from 60 New York City public schools who learn ballroom dancing and

participate in an annual tournament.

This film, by director Marilyn Agrelo, profiles kids from three

schools located in Tribeca, Bensonhurst and Washington Heights,

following their paths from the first awkward, herky-jerky steps to

the final twirls and bows.

It’s amazing to see this diverse group of children, many from

low-income households, develop such confidence, poise and a tolerance

for the opposite sex during the 10-week program. The interviews with

the children and their wonderfully supportive dance instructors are

funny and sometimes touching, although we only get a small glimpse of

their personalities and what motivates them.

When the kids move on to the actual competition, the movie really

comes to life. Regardless of their skill levels -- or height -- the

rhythms of the foxtrot, tango, merengue, rumba and swing get into the

kids’ blood, and they really start to look and move like dancers.

Watch the reactions of the judges and audience as the finalists strut

their stuff with grace and attitude.

Through voice-overs, we learn that some of these children had

behavioral “issues” when they first started and have since benefited

from the structure and discipline of the dance and gained a new

maturity and self-confidence. Seeing this film made me want to know

more about them as they have gotten older -- where are they now?

Regardless of which school gets the giant trophy in the end,

everybody comes out a winner.

* SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant

for a financial services company.