By Samantha Ofole-Prince

In this highly-anticipated sequel, the fancy-footed Lion (voice by Stiller), the quick talking Zebra (Rock), the Giraffe (Schwimmer) and the saucy Hippo (Pinkett Smith) are back as zoo animals marooned on the distant shores of Africa’s Madagascar.

Still longing to return to their beloved New York city zoo, the group repair an old crashed plane and hatch a plan to take flight back to New York, but the craft only stays airborne long enough for them to make it to the wildest place of all – the vast plains of Africa where they finally encounter species of their own kind.

Joining the cast members this time around are the voices of the late Bernie Mac as Zuba, Sherri Shepherd, Alec Baldwin and will.i.am as the ultra-stud hippo Moto Moto.

Despite its cast of talented comedians, the humor is far from gut-wrenching and although it does shake a few laughs here and there it mostly spends its imaginative resources on visual innovation. What makes it a decent flick is that the story is a kind of parable that suggests some seriousness beneath the surface.

In 2005, the prequel scoured big with domestic and international audiences racking up more than half a billion at the worldwide box office and this sequel again geared towards the kids should have no problem racking up a similar amount. It’s cute and cuddly -- much like its animated characters and will be fun for the smaller kids although there's not much crossover appeal for parents.