"It looks like a penguin," goes the Monty Python line.

It looks like a whole lot of penguins in "Penguins of Madagascar."

In one of the opening scenes of the animation feature film, there's a line of penguins as far as the eye can see.

The four most important penguins are Skipper (voiced by Tom McGrath), Kowalski (Chris Miller), Rico (Christopher Knights) and Private (Conrad Vernon).

The four penguins, who are secret agents modeled along the lines of James Bond and Austin Powers but with the tuxedoes on all the time, have super powers but are not super smart.

After nearly a decade, the four get title billing in the fourth sequel of the comedy. The penguins became the most popular characters in "Madagascar" (2005), "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" (2008) and "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" (2012).

"Penguins of Madagascar" is not to be confused with the Nickelodeon animation TV show, "The Penguins of Madagascar" (2008 - 2012). The "the" apparently makes all the difference.

The plotline of the movie has the four penguins allied with The North Wind to prevent Dr. Octavius Brine aka Dave (John Malkovich) from exacting revenge on the cute critters.

Other voice talent includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Jeong, Peter Stormare, Andy Richter and Annet Mahendru.

"Penguins of Madagascar" is co-directed by Eric Darnell (writer-director of the previous "Madagascar" films) and Simon J. Smith ("Bee Movie," 2007).

The screenplay has the input of seven writers. The screenplay was written by John Aboud ("The Comebacks," 2007), Michael Colton ("The Comebacks") and Brandon Sawyer from a story by Aboud, Colton, Alan J. Schoolcraft ("Megamind," 2010) and Brent Simons ("Megamind") based on characters by Darnell ("Madagascar," "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted") and McGrath ("Madagascar," "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa").

Whew.

Yes, "Penguins of Madagascar" has the sense of too many writers putting their two bits in. It's a cut and paste job. The preposterous storyline globe-trots from Antarctica, to Shanghai, to Rio, to Venice to New York City. And Cheezy Dibbles, the penguins snack of choice, does not a plotline make.

Chase scenes, fighting and fantastic gizmos substitute for a solid plot (and provide reasons to see the movie in 3D, although for this review the film was seen in the 2D format), giving "Penguins of Madagascar" the sense of a Saturday morning TV animation children's program. TV animation shows are, in fact, the background of the majority of the writers.

"Penguins of Madagascar" has a great look. The animation is superb. The rendering of the penguins right down to the fur (Do penguins have fur?) and including the porcelain-like eyes, is really quite beautiful.

"Penguins of Madagascar" should be entertaining for the pre-teen crowd. The children will enjoy the penguins' antics and the frenetic action.

Parents and adults will have fun with the many quips, puns and silly references (shout-outs use celebrity actors' names as punch lines: Halle Berry, Kevin Bacon, Nicolas Cage).

The film opens with narration by legendary director Werner Herzog (noted for, among other films, "Encounters At The End Of The World," 2007, a documentary about Antarctica), whose commentary makes fun of other penguin-themed films, notably, "March Of The Penguins" (2005) narrated by Morgan Freeman.

"We're cute and cuddly."

"Why do you think we always have documentary crews filming us?"

After that auspicious beginning, it's a slippery slope for "Penguins of Madagascar."

"Penguins of Madagascar" cannot get by on "immeasurable cuteness" alone.

"Penguins of Madagascar," MPAA rated PG (Parental Guidance Suggested. Some Material May Not Be Suitable For Children.) for mild action and some rude humor; Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family; Run time: 1 hr., 42 min.; Distributed by 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks

Credit Readers Anonymous: The end credits for "Penguins of Madagascar" include a scene immediately after the initial closing credits. In the credits, referencing a gag in the film, Dave is first identified as Debbie. There is a credit for animation studios in India and China. Pitbull sings "Celebrate" over the credit roll.

Box Office, Dec. 12: Moses (portrayed by Christian Bale) climbed to the top of the movie box-office mountaintop with "Exodus: Gods And Kings" opening at No. 1 with $24.5 million; knocking "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" from its three-week perch at No. 1, to No. 2 with $13.2 million, $277.3 million, four weeks. "Penguins Of Madagascar" dropped one to No. 3, with $7.3 million, $58.8 million, three weeks. Writer-director-actor Chris Rock's comedy opus bombed seriously, opening at No. 4, with an astonishingly low $7.2 million, given the movie's and the star's pre-release all-media platforms promotional blitz.

5. "Big Hero 6," $6.1 million, $185.3 million, six weeks; 6. "Interstellar," $5.5 million, $166.8 million, six weeks; 7. "Horrible Bosses 2," $4..6 million, $43.6 million, three weeks; 8. "Dumb and Dumber To," $2.7 million, $82.1 million, five weeks; 9. "The Theory Of Everything," $2.5 million, $17.1 million, six weeks; 10. "Wild," $1.5 million, $2.4 million, two weeks.

Unreel, Dec. 17, 18, 19:

"The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies," PG-13: Bilbo and the gang are still trying to keep Smaug from squashing Middle-Earth. Peter Jackson directs Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage and Cate Blanchette in the fantasy adventure.

"Annie," PG: The musical comedy gets a new look, starring Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Rose Byrne and Quvenzhane Wallis (of "Beasts of the Southern Wild").

"Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb," PG: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Dick Van Dyke and Robin Williams, in one of his last roles (reprising Teddy Roosevelt), star in the comedy.

"The Gambler," R: Mark Wahlberg stars as a gambler who owes money to a loan shark. Jessica Lange and Brie Larson costar in the drama.

"Mr. Turner," R: Mike Leigh directs Timothy Spall in the biopic about the British painter J.M.W. Turner.

Read Paul Willistein's movie reviews at the Lehigh Valley Press web site, thelehighvalley-press.com; the Times-News web site, tnonline.com; and hear them on "Lehigh Valley Art Salon," 6 - 6:30 p.m. Mondays, WDIY 88.1 FM, and wdiy.org, where they're archived. Email Paul Willistein: pwillistein@ tnonline.com. You can follow Paul Willistein on Twitter and friend Paul Willistein on facebook.

Two Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes