There are enough sight gags and silly jokes in Penguins of Madagascar to make children laugh. But a generation-spanning film, this one isn't.

The jokes are never-ending and multilayered, calculated so that adults do not get bored -- which is important, because they buy the tickets. It's all bolted together with precision and good humour, although not much whimsy.

Children will probably enjoy them and the animation is of a high standard. More wit and less frenetic action might have given the film more appeal to parents.

This spin off is a breezy good time chocked full of smart humor and a nicely developed story.