Dreamworks Animation has dropped a trailer for Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted. Again starring Ben Stiller (Alex), Jada Pinkett Smith (Gloria), David Schwimmer (Melman), Chris Rock (Marty), Sacha Baron Cohen (‘King’ Julien), Cedric the Entertainer (Maurice), Andy Richter (Mort) and Sherri Shepherd (Florrie), I’m not sure who was clamoring for a third installment in the Madagascar franchise, but this trailer is showing in front of New Year’s Eve and it’s got some genuinely funny moments (probably more than the film it precedes).  “Chimichanga! These pillows are filled with baby birds!”  One of the penguins yells with anguish after a pillow fight. Funniest part of the trailer: Chris Rock’s Marty singing about his polka-dot circus afro. I could listen to that all day…okay, well at least a few more times. Cracks me the hell up.

I love the James Bond-esque music underneath the beginning of the trailer, indeed Hans Zimmer’s score is pretty good from the little I can glean here. (At least I think it’s Zimmers. I’m seeing differing reports. Zimmer was responsible for the scores of Madagascar 1 and 2, but I’m also seeing Harry Gregson Williams’ name on 3.) The sound track also includes the obligatory covers (the better to sell that Original Soundtrack album) like  

The synopsis is: Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo join a traveling circus in an effort to get back home to New York.

Of course it’s not that simple for this anthropomorphic bunch as they try to travel through Europe without attracting the attention of the police and an obsessive animal control officer on a mission (Frances McDormand in her first animated role. Not sure about vocally, but visually her character is a scream). They're joined by several of their friends, including King Julien, Maurice and the Penguins, but after joining the circus there are encounters with new animals as well, including Stefano, an Italian sea lion, a Russian tiger and Gia, a Latina jaguar.  Andre Benjamin voices Zuba but I’m most curious about Zarragoza the circus tiger. I can’t figure out whose voice that is.  

Once again directed by Eric Darnell, this ‘threequel’ was written by Noah Baumbach (Greenberg, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Margot at the Wedding, The Squid and the Whale). Baumbach is reason enough alone to be curious about this film.

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted escapes to theaters in 3D on June 8 in the US and 19^th October in the UK.

Madonna and Sting pose backstage at last night’s two-hour Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief that George Clooney put together along with Wyclef Jean to raise money for this devastating tragedy.

The show opened with Alicia Keys singing Prelude to a Kiss and saw some very remarkable performances by Madonna, Sting, Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Shakira, Bono, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, Coldplay and more.  I’ve included some pictures of some of the performances but if you missed any of them my friend at Busy Bee Blogger has all the videos.  You really should watch the performances if you missed any of them.

Taking donations by phone (pictured):

• Jack Nicholson
• Stephen Spielberg
• Ellen DeGeneres
• Fran Drescher
• Jennifer Aniston
• Gerard Butler
• Jeremy Piven
• Taylor Swift
• Selena Gomez
• Colin Ferrell
• Chris Rock
• Charlize Theron
• Russell Brand

And lots more.  I’ve also included some pictures of celebrities arriving at the event as well as backstage.

If you didn’t donate and wish to, the wonderful people at ONTD have put together a very comprehensive list of the many different organizations you can donate to with website addresses and telephone numbers along with how much money ONTD has raised and how that can help the people of Haiti.

Tons of pictures after the break

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Last night’s Gotham Independent Film Awards were held at Cipriani’s in New York (of course) where Natalie Portman and Stanley Tucci were honoured for their career in film.

Attending the event:

• Patricia Clarkson
• Brooke Shields
• Rosie Perez
• Bill Hader
• Alec Baldwin
• Chris Rock
• Kristen Wiig
• Ellen Burstyn
• Willem Dafoe

and of course hottie Ryan Reynolds who gets the main picture because he’s hot (and I’m deep like that), although I would prefer if he would lose the facial hair because it hides his luscious lips that I have big, big plans for.

Pictures after the break

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Toni Braxton and family attended the The Los Angeles premiere of ‘Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa’.

Lots of celebs came out for this fun premeire: 

Sherri Sheperd, Debbie Mazar & family, David Schwimmer & Zoe Buckman, Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith and family, Chris Rock and family, Fergie, Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor.

Pics after the jump

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