Gavin Greenway's soundtrack is cute and cuddle and badass written all over it.
Review by Matt Cummings
The new year might be filled with one loser film after another (see Seventh Son, Jupiter Ascending, and The Wedding Ringer), but 2015 and late 2014 also granted us some terrific soundtracks from various films (see our review of Ilan Eshkeri's Black Sea). There's so much out there that your iPod will be full Another of these is for the 2014 Dreamworks Animation release of The Penguins of Madagascar.
Part origin story, Penguins begins with our favorite flightless birds Skipper (Tom McGrath), Kowalski (Chris Miller), Rico (Conrad Vernon) and the newly-hatched Private (Christopher Knights), whom the other dub as their 'brother.' Impulsive and frankly militant, the Penguins escape their frozen Arctic confines to become the darlings of the New York Zoo, turning one of their habitation mates Dave (John Malkovich) into a brilliant but psychotic villain. The octopus has been promised revenged against all penguins by developing The Medusa Serum, sparking the attention the rival spy network North Wind, led by the debonair wolf Agent Classified (Benedict Cumberbatch). His team includes a seal (Ken Jeong), a polar bear (Peter Stormare), and an exotic, sexy owl (Annet Mahendru), all of whom travel around with fancy James Bond-like gadgets. Initially unwilling to share in each other's glory, North Wind and the Penguins set off to defeat Dave before he can unleash the Serum and bring all of Penguin Nation to their knees.
The score by Composer Gavin Greenaway is as fun as the film, settling in on several James Bond-esque themes early. We start off with The Penguins of Madagascar, the movie's main theme and delivering on the movie's slapstick nature. It's a toe-tapper for sure, and finds its way into many of the movie's tracks. Greenway employs a variety of instruments throughout the 21 tracks, some organic and many others keyboard-created. Antartica [03:31] is more of dreamy, big theme with lots of horns and voices, while Demersus [02:53] is more of the Bond elements of a bongo and strings as the penguins infiltrate Fort Knox. Sclateri [03:25] and Adeliae [03:31] are straight-up Bond tips-of-the-hat, with fast-moving piano and horn unison - they're both great in their own rights, and also set up their individual scenes quite well. Forsteri [02:52] gives us the first indication of The North Wind theme, as the team descends to help The Penguins in Spain. It's a fun fast-moving track with a lot of elements we'll discover in futue tracks.
Patagonicus [03:03], Magellanicus [01:24], and Robustus [03:36] are set up songs, as The Penguins and North Wind get to know each other. I know I keep using the word 'fun' to describe a lot of these tracks, but you can imagine both teams competing against one another, with David Arnold's orchestrations from any of his Bond movies playing a tad in the background. Magellanicus and Private's Theme [02:34] are also pretty pieces, both in their complimenting of the more tender moments of the film, then busting out when needed in raucous melody before hitting their ends.
Perhaps my favorite track is #11 Eudyptula Minor [01:35], which formally introduces us to the North Wind theme. It's a great piece because it's just as over-the-top as Wind themselves, their big tech matching their egos and refusal to run away from an explosion because they're just too cool to do so. Filled with big strings and horns, and complimented by rock guitar and a trapset, it's pure Bond or Hans Zimmer's Mission: Impossible II. It's one of those tracks you'll want to add to your iPhone of Sondtracks (wait, you do that TOO?!)
While Chrysolophus [02:51] is another set up piece, Chrysocome [01:59] is another impressive track that really shows off the bombasity of what Directors Simon J. Smith and Eric Darnell were trying to accomplish. It's so much fun, as the trumpets lead off a sexy theme as Dave arrives in New York to attack the penguin lovers. Antipodes [01:20]repeats several elements of the main theme, but arranges them in such a way to make them seem very fresh. There's even some Hobbit mixed in here with some nice orchestrations. Schlegeli [02:46] mixes a bit of the themes from Danny Elfman's Mr. Peabody & Sherman in terms of its wonder. The Penguins aren't about the bigger themes of that terrific film, but it's great to see such a diversity of music from Greenway. Mendiculus [03:14] is distinctly one of the most serious pieces of the offering, with its flutes and oboe building to a crescendo of violins and orchestra, then moving into a fun mix of melodies from throughout the picture.
Papua [01:56] is another darker chase piece with longer horn tones and odd string build ups. Take nothing away from this one, as it will sound great on your surround system. Humboldti [02:52] returns us to the beginning of Private's birth with a nice collection of flute and background strings, which move together like a well-oiled dance team. It's another theme we hear a lot throughout the score, giving the movie its more tender music for those more serious scenes. It's a got a big epic feel to it, but one that descends into dark again before capping off a nice creshendo. The final cut He Is Dave (with Lorne Balfe & Antony Genn) [03:14] is a raucous theme for Dave the Octopus and represents the only singing piece; it's totally hilarious and reminds me of a Saturday Night skit if Weird Al Yankovic were to write it.
Soundtracks are typically forgotten when a film is released, but Penguins of Madagascar is a terrific compliment that will keep you tapping your toes as you gym or drive out. And although the film didn't perform as well as I would have hoped, this collection from Greenway is as memorable as any other film score in recent memory.
The Penguins of Madagascar is ending its theatrical run soon, so be sure to check it out before it leaves altogether. The soundtrack is available in digital or hard copy from Amazon and most retailers.
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