Pampered and provided for at New York’s Central Park Zoo, life couldn’t be better for Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo. They’ve lived all their lives in captivity, been served good meals every day and visited by an adoring public.

Things are about to change.

Marty (voiced by Chris Rock) is curious about the world beyond their idyllic surroundings and escapes with the help of a group of penguins. Alex (Ben Stiller), Melman (David Schwimmer) and Gloria (Jada Pinkett-Smith) go after him, but their life on the outside comes to an abrupt end when they are rounded up and shipped off to Africa where they will be set free.