If only all sequels were this good. In "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," a hugely entertaining, lightning-fast, ceaselessly funny follow-up to the adorable 2005 animated hit, our wisecracking animal gang attempts to fly back to the New York zoo from Madagascar but wind up on the wild African plains. 

After a dizzying crash-landing sequence, which effectively sets the breakneck comic pace for the rest of the film, Alex the lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the love-struck giraffe (David Schwimmer) and Gloria the sexy hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) share a "Roots" moment. As they look over the savannah they sense that this is their true home.