I’ll say right off the bat that my kids liked "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" better than I did. I LOVED the first "Night at the Museum," and this sequel seems like a throw-away to capitalize on the first movie and showcase all the stuff in the Smithsonian. That said, there are a few things I like about it; namely, Amy Adams as the plucky Amelia Earhart.

Ben Stiller returns as Larry Daley, only instead of working as a night guard at the Museum of Natural History in New York City, he’s running a big corporation now and doing infomercials for all his products, like a glow-in-the-dark flashlight.

Meanwhile, the Museum of Natural History is closed for renovations and upgrades, and the displays are being shipped off to the archives underneath the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Not all the displays are going, however, and when Jedediah (Owen Wilson) and Octavius (Steve Coogan) accidentally get boxed up and shipped off, Larry goes on a rescue mission to the Smithsonian to find them.

So that’s the main story. When Larry gets there, he ends up tussling with Egyptian ruler Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria), Ivan the Terrible (Christopher Guest), and Napoleon (Alain Chabat). But working on Larry’s side are the snappy-talkin’ Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) and Bill Hader’s General Custer (who knew he had self-esteem issues?). Larry’s son, Nicky (Jake Cherry) is running recon on the computer at home, giving logistical intel to Larry via cell phone.

The highlights for me are Adams’ jazz-age-inspired Earhart (she made me want to go find some adventures!), as well as some of the exhibits at the Smithsonian. Famous paintings come to life a la Harry Potter, and there’s a sweet trio of singing Cherubs, voiced by the Jonas Brothers – only they’re singing the Bee Gee’s and "Titanic" theme song rather than ancient chants, which makes it fun.

Still, the movie drags a bit and a lot of the one-liners fell flat. It did well at the box office this weekend, but I think it’s just because there aren’t a lot of other new family movies out right now.

NOTE TO PARENTS: This movie is fine for kids 7 and older. Language includes insults and a few "dammits," and there’s a couple of kisses and a sweet romance. Most of the PG material comes from action and violence. Larry and his pals are chased and threatened with spears, swords, guns, etc. A giant octopus threatens characters at one point, but most of the action is lighthearted and fun.

Images: TM and © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

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For more Film Gecko Oscar coverage: Live-Blog; Heath Ledger’s family accepts award; Photos; Winners; Recap; Red Carpet Fashions. 

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John Hamburg has been brought in to write the screenplay (Larry Stuckey penned an earlier draft). He’s a longtime Ben Stiller collaborator who worked on “Meet the Parents,” “Meet the Fockers,” and “Along Came Polly.” He also wrote and directed “I Love You, Man,” due out next month.

Jay Roach, who directed the first two Focker flicks, will NOT direct this one. No word on his replacement, but Paul Weitz (“About a Boy”), David Wain (“Role Models”), and Peyton Reed (“Yes Man”) are all in the running.

Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, and Owen Wilson are all in talks to star in “Little Fockers.” The story will revolve around the kid(s) of Stiller and his wife, played by Teri Polo – though no word on whether she’s returning. I’m guessing yes.

You know what? I liked the first movie, but the second one, not so much. They could have ended the franchise there, as far as I’m concerned.

Image: Amazon.com

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"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" – Blu-ray Bonus Features:

• Filmmakers’ Commentary
• It’s A Family Affair: The Cast of ESCAPE 2 AFRICA (HD)
• The Making of ESCAPE 2 AFRICA (HD)
• Crash Landing (HD)
• African Adventure (HD)
• Jambo Jambo: Swahili Speak (HD)
• The Bronx Zoo: Madagascar (HD)
• Alex’s Dance Off (HD)
• Test Flight of Air Penguin Game (HD)
• The Heart of a Lion (HD) – BD-LIVE
• MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA Activision Game Trailer

Music Videos:

• "Move It, Move It" (HD)
• “Big and Chunky” (HD)
• “She Loves Me” (HD)
• “The Traveling Song” (HD)

THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR

• “Popcorn Panic”
• “Gone in a Flash”

Penguin Easter Eggs

• Move It, Move It
• Hock Shop
• Julien’s Birthday
• Tug of War
• Fully Armed
• No Thanks, I’m Stuffed

Blu-ray Exclusive Content

• The Animators’ Corner (HD)
• Trivia Track (HD)

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“Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” is Too.Much.Fun! I love that they didn’t make us wait for the “Move it, Move It” song, and jumped right into it at the beginning. My kids and I loved everything about it from beginning to end. We all agreed that it’s even better than the first movie. And a third movie is on the way for 2011, so we’ve got that to look forward to.

All the originals are back — Alex the lion (voiced by Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer), and Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith). It begins on the distant shores of Madagascar, where we last left our fun-loving group. They’ve finally figured out a way to get back to New York City and their beloved Central Park Zoo. The resourceful penguins have repaired a dilapidated WWII plane and turned it into Air Penguin.

But they’re barely in the air when the plane crash-lands in the African savannah. The kicker is that it turns out to be Alex’s former stomping grounds. We learn that he began life as a cub here, until poachers grabbed him while his father, Zuba (Bernie Mac) was fending off an attack by a foe, Makunga (Alec Baldwin).

Alex’s parents are thrilled to see him, even putting him up in the room they’ve kept with his things all these years. But Makunga quickly manages to get him banished to the wilderness, thanks to Alex’s bumbling of a rite of passage. He thinks it involves dancing, not fighting!

Meanwhile, Gloria finds interest in a group of hippos there, including a certain male hippo, Moto Moto (will.i.am, whose deep voice is like the Barry White of Hippo-World). Melman wrestles with his jealousy over Gloria’s situation, and Marty is dismayed to learn that every other zebra is his exact replica, right down to the voice!

There are so many pop culture references and funny sequences, it’s impossible to name them all. But here are a few highlights:

• An Air Penguin crewman tries to handle a screwdriver, saying “Darn you Darwin!” when the tool slips from his flipper.
• Alex the dancing lion, expertly doing Jerome Robbins’ choreography from “West Side Story” in a fight scene with a ferocious lion.
• The hot-tub love scene between beautifully plump hippos Gloria and Moto Moto.
• A funny storyline involving a group of tourists, including one feisty grandma-type who has no qualms about taking down anyone who gets in her way.
• The manic and musically inventive Julien (Sacha Baron Cohen), singing Tina Turner’s “Private Dancer” as a ballad.
• Skipper the penguin, putting a hula doll on the dashboard of his airplane control panel, then falling in love with the figurine.

Even though these bits will probably go over the heads of most kids, they’re still very funny, even if you don’t get the references. “Madagascar 2″ is one of those movies to be enjoyed by both kids and adults.

DVD Special Features:

• DWA Jukebox
• Filmmaker Commentary
• It’s A Family Affair: The Cast of Escape 2 Africa
• The Making of Escape 2 Africa
• Crash Landing
• African Adventure
• Jambo Jambo: Swahili Speak
• Test Flight of Air Penguin Game
• Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Activision Game Trailer
• Four MAD Music Videos: "Move It, Move It," “Big and Chunky," “She Loves Me," "The Traveling Song” Sing Along 

Images: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, DreamWorks Distribution, 2008

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They’re in negotiations for DreamWorks’ "Master Mind," about a superhero villain who loses his reason to live after accidentally killing his good-guy nemesis.

They’re looking at a Nov. 5, 2010 release date. Stiller is also producing via his Red Hour Films.

Eh, maybe I’ll get more excited as the movie gets closer. I imagine doing voice work is a lot less work than doing live-action. Maybe that’s why so many actors end up doing animated movies. Or maybe they’re just fun to do.

Image: Tropic Thunder, Dreamworks SKG, 2008

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“Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” is Too.Much.Fun! I love that they didn’t make us wait for the “Move it, Move It” song, and jumped right into it at the beginning. My kids and I loved everything about it from beginning to end. We all agreed that it’s even better than the first movie. And a third movie is on the way for 2011, so we’ve got that to look forward to.

All the originals are back — Alex the lion (voiced by Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer), and Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith). It begins on the distant shores of Madagascar, where we last left our fun-loving group. They’ve finally figured out a way to get back to New York City and their beloved Central Park Zoo. The resourceful penguins have repaired a dilapidated WWII plane and turned it into Air Penguin.

But they’re barely in the air when the plane crash-lands in the African savannah. The kicker is that it turns out to be Alex’s former stomping grounds. We learn that he began life as a cub here, until poachers grabbed him while his father, Zuba (Bernie Mac) was fending off an attack by a foe, Makunga (Alec Baldwin).

Alex’s parents are thrilled to see him, even putting him up in the room they’ve kept with his things all these years. But Makunga quickly manages to get him banished to the wilderness, thanks to Alex’s bumbling of a rite of passage. He thinks it involves dancing, not fighting!

Meanwhile, Gloria finds interest in a group of hippos there, including a certain male hippo, Moto Moto (will.i.am, whose deep voice is like the Barry White of Hippo-World). Melman wrestles with his jealousy over Gloria’s situation, and Marty is dismayed to learn that every other zebra is his exact replica, right down to the voice!

There are so many pop culture references and funny sequences, it’s impossible to name them all. But here are a few highlights:

• An Air Penguin crewman tries to handle a screwdriver, saying “Darn you Darwin!” when the tool slips from his flipper.
• Alex the dancing lion, expertly doing Jerome Robbins’ choreography from “West Side Story” in a fight scene with a ferocious lion.
• The hot-tub love scene between beautifully plump hippos Gloria and Moto Moto.
• A funny storyline involving a group of tourists, including one feisty grandma-type who has no qualms about taking down anyone who gets in her way.
• The manic and musically inventive Julien (Sacha Baron Cohen), singing Tina Turner’s “Private Dancer” as a ballad.
• Skipper the penguin, putting a hula doll on the dashboard of his airplane control panel, then falling in love with the figurine.

Even though these bits will probably go over the heads of most kids, they’re still very funny, even if you don’t get the references. “Madagascar 2″ is one of those movies to be enjoyed by both kids and adults.

Images: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, DreamWorks Distribution, 2008

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