First Look: ‘Madagascar 3’ adds a new dimension

When: Opening Friday at local theaters

Cast: The voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith

Directors: Eric Darnell, Conrad Vernon and Tom McGrath

The story: Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo and Melman the Giraffe continue their journey home to the Central Park Zoo, this time under the cover of a European traveling circus. Frances McDormand and Bryan Cranston join the vocal cast as, respectively, animal control officer Chantel DuBois and Siberian tiger Vitaly.

The buzz: The extended sequences shown at April’s CinemaCon at Caesars Palace were gorgeous, proving the billion-dollar franchise is more than capable of making the leap to 3-D. In addressing the crowd, co-star Rock declared the threequel would be the biggest hit of the summer. Then a little movie named “The Avengers” opened.

– CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE