Why I walked out on Madagascar... Review on Madagascar Movie

...The penguins, who seemed to be spoofs of a quasi-military elite squad, stole the show in my opinion. Which is sad, because they didn't have a large enough part to keep me or my movie watching buddy in the theatre. We left shortly after the zoo escapees arrived on the island (about half-way through).

Our biggest complaint was the character development of the main animal characters. It was yet another example of Hollywood relying on stereotypes to fill in characters. For example, the lion was a puffy, self-absorbed, huge, golden, white boy. He and the zebra, played by Chris Rock and made to represent ''the black man'' in the movie, were constantly vying to be at the top. The dialogue and jokes related to this ''plot'' were tired, stereotypical, and lazy. Not to go on and on, for you could watch this and see for yourself, but one last example I'll give regards the ''big, black woman'' - the HIPPO(!) who was always either smoothing out the ruffles in Alex the Lion's feathers or keeping the Zebra in line. This is a long-standing stereotype of black women in America known as ''Mamie'' or ''Mammy'' and dates back to chattel slavery.

The point at which I knew I had truly wasted $8.00 was when they roll up onto the beach after being tossed off of a container ship and the Hippo character emerges from a wooden crate with starfish stuck to what would be her breasts - if she was human - and a crab stuck to her crotch and says nonchalantly, ''Okay boys, fun's over.'' They scamper down and the movie rolls on. If you are asking, ''What's the big deal?'' at this point, I advise you to consider that this type of representation of black women as alternatingly commanding, placating, and sexually available to all (even little sea creatures that go as far as to literally match the name for a common STD - Crabs) is racist, hurtful, inaccurate, and irresponsible. As entertainment, I ask, ''Who is this meant to entertain?''

Not me, so I left the theatre to go home and wash my hair. I hope if you have read to this point, you will at least approach viewing this movie with your thinking caps on. I'm all for sitting back and letting Hollywood entertain me, but in the case of this movie, that could just be hazardous to your psychological health.