Madagascar (U)

Kids will respond to these cuddly creatures, adults will chuckle at the one-liners and the arch movie references - or will they? The problem here is that, however much you admire the cleverness (the escape committee of penguins is a genius touch), there's not a single moment of spontaneity.

Calculation is fine in small doses, but a whole movie of it becomes very monotonous. Parts of it are genuinely inspired, notably an eerie lesson on the food chain soundtracked by Louis Armstrong's "Wonderful World" , and Baron Cohen's grandstanding dance set-piece that's up there with Busby Berkeley. It's just not that enjoyable.