Parents' Guide to

The Penguins of Madagascar: Operation Blowhole

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Crafty penguins' antics will appeal to kids and adults.

Movie NR 2012 73 minutes
The Penguins of Madagascar: Operation Blowhole Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 7+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Laleh the Ghost
Laleh the Ghost Adult
April 5, 2020
age 6+

Silly, good music, nothing objectionable

It's silly, but there's nothing objectionable. I think they added Neil Patrick Harris's power-ballad solo to appeal to Gen-X (and presumably early millennial) parents. My 7-year-old enjoyed the song but didn't find it as funny as I did!
Allie M.
Allie M. Parent of 8, 8 and 11-year-old
March 11, 2017
age 8+

Better than most Penguins of Madagascar

I find the Madagascar franchise to be somewhat hit-or-miss, but this one is outstanding. It starts out with the usual inane plot but culminates in a hilarious musical number driven by Neil Patrick Harris' Blowhole character. I chose age 8 just because of typical cartoon violence, laser beams shooting at the animals and lots of explosions, but nothing terrible. I highly recommend this one. Our kids, ages 8 and 11, loved it -- they love all of the Madagascar shows.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Central Park Zoo's clever resident penguins face their greatest challenge yet when their nemesis, Dr. Blowhole (voiced by Neil Patrick Harris), plots to hijack Skipper's (Tom McGrath) memory to locate his faithful friends and turn them against their leader. Deserted on an island without a clue to his identity, Skipper turns to his holographic spirit guide, Alex the lion (Ben Stiller), to find his way home, arriving just in time to thwart Blowhole's plans against his friends. But untimely interference from the lemur king, Julien (Danny Jacobs), gives Blowhole a new weapon of destruction, and the zoo crew must pull together to save themselves from the power-hungry porpoise.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (3):

Part comedy, part spy thriller, and now part musical, this addition to the crafty penguins' resume ramps up the wackiness in crowd-pleasing style. There are still plenty of hilarious spoofs on spy dramas and secret agents, but this special takes unpredictability to a whole new level by throwing in show-stopping ballads and group song-and-dance numbers as well.

This is whole-family entertainment at its best. The well-rounded characterizations, sharp dialogue, and seamless union of physical gags and adult humor make it fun for both parents and kids. If you plan to tune in with your youngest tots, though, you may want to prep them for a number of startling appearances by a disembodied head from Blowhole's Segway, which can be frightening if you're not expecting it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about teamwork. Which characters in this show work as part of a team? What's their goal? How do they work together to achieve it? What qualities are important in a team leader?

  • Kids: Have you seen Madagascar? Why do you think these characters warranted their own show? Were they your favorites from the movie? Do you think the movie's writers intended them to be so popular?

  • Kids: What does the saying, "What goes around comes around" mean? Do you think that people who are mean to others eventually fall victim to meanness themselves? Have you ever seen it happen? What lessons can be found in this movie?

Movie Details

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