There is no escaping sequels, and so "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" was inevitable. Although this sequel doesn't do much more than trot out the same cuddly characters, that'll be enough to please everyone who made the first movie an animated hit in 2005.

The first movie involved four inhabitants of the Central Park Zoo escaping their cages and heading into the wilds of New York. After they were captured, well-intentioned humans decided they would be happiest living in a Kenyan wildlife preserve; however, they mistakenly wound up in Madagascar, where they met an assortment of relentlessly loud and cute critters.

There's just as much noisy activity in a sequel that contrives to send the festive quartet to mainland Africa. The lion Alex (Ben Stiller), zebra Marty (Chris Rock), giraffe Melman (David Schwimmer) and hippo Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) finally meet animals who look like themselves.

Not that the movie gets profound, but it does raise issues about individual vs. group identity. How can you stand out from the herd and yet also express solidarity for your species? And if these wildly different animals all get along, why can't people learn a multicultural lesson from it? The littlest humans watching this movie doubtless will ask such questions while being taken by mom and dad on the safari headed home.

Unlike the concrete canyons of Manhattan and jungles of Madagascar seen in the first movie, the sequel mostly is set on vast African plains under an immense sky. Thousands of animals gather around a water hole in several scenes, which provides a densely populated backdrop for our four protagonists. The landscape is quite beautiful in these crowd scenes. There's a palpable sense of Africa as a boisterous and yet austere wonderland. Incidentally, the expected African wildlife is supplemented by adorably misbehaving penguins.

Some of the natural antics might prove too silly and shrill for adult viewers, but kids are likely to respond favorably to the sensory overload. Long sections of the movie are just an excuse to let the quartet hang out with their wild friends, tease each other, and periodically break out into song.

There's also an attempt to show that the four stars are maturing as a result of getting so directly in touch with their roots. Zoo exhibit A in this respect is Alex, the lion who delighted New Yorkers with his showbiz routines back at the Central Park zoo. When Alex explores mainland Africa, he is reunited with his father (the late Bernie Mac) and mother (Sherri Shepherd). His dad is an alpha male who passes along valuable leadership skills to Alex. These are meant to be heartfelt scenes, but too often seem like outtakes from "The Lion King."

More amusing is a plot twist that has the amply endearing Gloria maturing to the point that she's ready for a romantic friendship with a hunky hippo named Moto Moto (will.i.am). Their earthshaking courtship is funny and, yes, likely to engender a sentimental smile.

Other plot developments in a movie that frankly does not have much plot include the animals confronting a group of New York tourists. Wildlife is no match for a purse-swinging old lady. These confrontations are so predictable that they seem creatively stale, but they're also so vigorous that kids won't be bored by them.

This sequel is likely to do well, raising the possibility that future installments may have to explore other continents. Brace yourself for "Madagascar: Penguins Marching 4 Antarctica." Grade: C+

"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" (PG) opens Friday, Nov. 7 at area theaters.

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