ON the promise of a large buttery bucket of popcorn, I apprehensively agreed to accompany my two young nephews to see one of this summer's top-billed kids' movies.

Children's films aren't usually my bag and I struggle to understand the hoards of adults out there who'd rather watch Bambi than Deer Hunter.

That said, I chuckled my way through Shrek and Shrek 2, and since Madagascar is also made by animation experts Dreamworks, maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.

The story is set firmly in cartoon land, where the animals not only talk to one another but also hang out fairly casually in Central Park Zoo.

Bored of life in captivity, Marty the Zebra makes a break for freedom, only making it as far as Grand Central Station before being recaptured. As punishment Marty and his friends, Alex the lion, Gloria the hippo and Melman the giraffe are all shipped off and later find themselves washed up on a beach in Madagascar. But can they cope with a life less pampered?

Although the four main characters raise their fair share of smiles, it is the secondary characters which steal the show. What could be better than a rebellious pack of penguins or a pair of chimps who openly discuss flinging their poo?

Madagascar is highly enjoyable and although it covers no new ground there are certainly worse ways to spend 88 minutes of your time.

EB