Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Much like Universal is about to spin-off the DESPICABLE ME franchise into a MINIONS only solo film, Dreamworks is doing the same with the breakout characters from the MADAGASCAR franchise, the Penguins. Creatively titled THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR, the film bears to connection to the animated series of the same name featuring the same characters.
Joining Skipper (Tom McGrath), Kowalski (Chris Miller), Rico (John DiMaggio) and Private (Christopher Knights), THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR will also feature the voices of John Malkovich, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Jeong, Annett Mahendru, and Peter Stormare. Just knowing that there is a wolf played by the voice of Reboot Khan and an octopus voiced by Malkovich himself intrigues me enough to check this one out.
Discover the secrets of the most entertaining and mysterious birds in the global espionage game: Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private now must join forces with the chic spy organization, the North Wind, led by Agent Classified (we could tell you his name, but then … you know), voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch to stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine, voiced by John Malkovich, from taking over the world.
THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR doesn't look terribly innovative in the animation department, but the MADAGASCAR franchise really never has been all that original. Each film has performed better at the box office than the previous films as they have become more and more ridiculous. This very well could be a blast for kids of all ages, but I wouldn't get my expectations too high for anything Pixar caliber here.
THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR hits theaters on November 26, 2014.
